Published: December 17, 2018
Refurbishment of a granite chapel attached to a care-home in Hayle in West Cornwall, located between Camborne and Penzance, has been officially opened by George Eustice MP.
The renovation and restoration to the Downes Residential Care Home, which is situated in a grade 2 listed historic building first built in the 1880s, has seen the capacity increase from 17 to 31 residents who have learning disabilities or require round the clock dementia care.
Funding and refinancing has been provided by Unity Trust Bank, a commercial bank with a social conscience.
The transformation has seen the chapel turned into 14 flats, whilst retaining original characteristics of the building which was first built in 1926.
George Eustice MP, who is also the Minister for the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, said: “The Downes Care Home has been providing specialist care to those who need it most since 2010. This refurbishment is great news for the care home and will allow more specialist care to be provided to residents with learning difficulties and those needing round the clock care. I would like to thank all the staff who work here for the fantastic work that they do in providing care to residents and I wish the care home every success for the future.”
Owner- and businessman, Malcolm Burkett, who runs the business with his family, commented: “The refurbishment means we can now offer even more specialist care to residents with learning difficulties and those needing round the clock dementia care. People are getting older and people always need care. I’m passionate about providing expert care in a sector I’ve worked in for more than a decade, and Cornwall is a great place to provide it.”
Linda Martin, Relationship Manager at Unity Trust Bank, added: “The Downes Care Home and the care home sector fits perfectly with our ethos of helping businesses and organisations to prosper and contribute to economic, community and social change. We’re delighted that we have been able to help Malcolm and the Downes Care Home in this way, which means that the care home is now able to provide more vital care to even more residents.”
The Downes Care Home, first opened by Malcolm after undergoing extensive and specialist renovation, was previously a convent. The property is complemented by 7 acres of grade 2 registered historic gardens overlooking the Atlantic Ocean.
