Taunton and Wellington MP Gideon Amos recently visited Eliot Court, a supported housing scheme in Taunton owned and managed by LiveWest, to gain insight into the services and hear our resident’s feedback.

Eliot Court homes 12 residents living with a learning disability and provides 24-hour care by care provider Discovery.

Our service ensures our residents have a comfortable place to call home with support available when and if they need it.

During the MP’s visit at the scheme, Gideon Amos shared his thoughts on the visit, he said: “It’s been a really great visit here at Eliot Court with the residents who are getting the support they need from LiveWest and Discovery who are doing great work.

“Supported housing like I’m seeing here today is really important for giving people the independence, and as much independence they can to lead their own lives. 

“They are able to lead more independent lives to develop and to learn new things and to take up new hobbies and activities and that’s the right way. 

“It’s really important that LiveWest and Discovery are funded to provide more places like this. There’s an increase in demand for places that are going to give people the independence they need.”  

Eliot Court, opened in 2018, has 12 one-bedroom flats built to two-bedroom specifications, a communal lounge, office space for support staff and an overnight room for care givers.

The MP added: “A big take away for me is that everybody can be given that little more independence to learn a bit more about how to live by themselves and a bit of freedom and support.” 

Across the South West, LiveWest has over 470 supported housing schemes specifically designed to support people living with learning disabilities. Many homes are part of a wider scheme where each service is tailored to every individual.  

We also offer supported housing for young people, adults and families, extra care and veterans.

Suzanne Brown, our Executive Director of Operations, said: “It was an absolutely fantastic afternoon. It was really brilliant to see Gideon engaging with the residents. 

“Everyone was really pleased to see him, and the residents were really interested in what he does and what his job is. 

“It was really great to explain to our residents that the MP to come and meet them and talk about their housing and to see what it’s like where they lived.

“I think Eliot Court really optimises how supported housing can change people's lives. There are 12 people living with a learning disability and living here independently at Eliot Court. 

“This means each resident has their own flat with support services provided for them, which that enables them to grow, to contribute to society, to go out to work, to engage with education, to socialise a meet and mix with each other, and to really have a high quality of life. 

“I think the fact that this type of accommodation is there to enable that is really really important.”

We launched our Let’s Talk Supported Housing (#LetsTalkSH) Campaign to share supported housing stories and highlight the positive impact supported housing has on individuals and families within communities.  

Learn more about our Let’s Talk Supported Housing Campaign and supported housing services by clicking here.