An intergenerational care village, home to older people and young children together, has been officially opened in Chester by the city’s lord mayor, Councillor Sheila Little, who unveiled a commemorative plaque before guests were treated to a performance from Sankofa Songsters, the care village’s intergenerational choir. 

The £21 million Belong Village incorporates six extended family-sized 24-hour care ‘households’, 23 independent living apartments, as well as the children’s nursery. Centred around a hub of amenities, including a bistro, hair salon and specialist exercise studio, the site is open to the public, creating a busy environment for customers and the local community. The Chester division of Belong’s home care service, Belong at Home, is also based at the location.

The facility supports older people to live their lives independently, with the site’s integrated day nursery, operated by national charity Ready Generations, under the same roof. The nursery children feature in the daily life of residents and tenants, enjoying experiences together, including shared mealtimes, stories, arts and crafts, exercise, and ‘prambles’ – rambling with pushchairs – now a familiar sight in Chester.

Little said: “It was a pleasure to look round the village and officially open Belong Chester, and to meet staff and residents. This is a particularly exciting and innovative development as it includes a nursery, which benefits both the children who attend and the residents who visit to play and read to them. I look forward to visiting again to see how the village is growing and developing.”

Patrick Butler, general manager at Belong Chester, added: “We’re thrilled to commemorate our official opening; it’s been a wonderful day full of laughter, joy, and plenty of fizz. We invite everyone who has yet to visit us to come and say hello, see what we have to offer, and enjoy a coffee in our bistro, now we have officially arrived.” 

Belong Chester is the eighth Belong village and the fourth in Cheshire, with its other sites in Crewe, Macclesfield and Warrington.