Vincent House prepares to open its doors

Vincent House is now complete. The magnificent building which stands on the corner of Nags Head Road and the Hertford Road in Enfield has welcomed its first social tenants, and is now preparing to welcome in its first two commercial tenants, Age Concern and the Citizens Advice Bureau.

The Citizen’s Advice Bureau (CAB), who are opening on the 25th March, will continue to offer free and impartial advice on problems ranging from benefit entitlement and housing problems to discrimination, employment and consumer law. They will open on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesdays, from 9.30am till 12.00 midday for face to face advocacy, and Thursdays for telephone advice.

Age Concern will be opening their doors on the 1st April, but it will be no April Fools day for staff as it will be all systems go as the team see three sites all brought under one roof for the first time. This is except for their day care centre for people with dementia, which will remain at Houndsfield Road in Edmonton.

Age Concern's one-stop Information Service is open daily 10.00am to 3.00pm, there is no appointment system but is on first come first served basis. The service offers assistance with a whole range and variety of issues relevant to the over 50s such as Pension Credit, Attendance Allowance and Council Tax enquires. Their Insurance Sales Office will also be open daily 10.00am to 3.00pm. They will also be running their popular Footcare Clinic from the building.

Vincent House will also provide twenty self contained flats on the first and second floors of the building which are for young people with disabilities. This new and innovative venture has been the success of good partnership working between Enfield Council and Christian Action Housing Association, and will offer a first step on the ladder for identified young people, aged 16-25 who wish to live more independently.

Christian Action Housing Association will manage the accommodation and will be the landlord for the building as a whole. A community café, coming soon, and a small garden patio, will complete the accommodation on the ground floor.

The building itself is unique. It is heated entirely by underfloor heating connected to an electric ground source heat pump. It works by removing heat from water extracted from below ground using technology similar to that of a refrigerator. This keeps heating / cooling costs to the building to an absolute minimum.

24 photovoltaic panels installed on the roof will provide sufficient electricity for the lighting within the ground floor offices.

The official opening day will be during the summer.

Tony Seagroatt, Chief Executive of Age Concern said “I am delighted that we can finally bring together the majority of the organisation under one roof, as this has been a long term personal ambition of mine.

“In addition, we are all really looking forward working in closer partnership with Enfield Council, The Citizens Advice Bureau and Christian Action Housing.”

Fiyaz Mughal, CAB’s Chief Executive Officer said “The move to Vincent House will give us new energy in more ways than one. For the first time, all our departments will be under one custom-built roof, enabling us to give a better service.

“The move coincides with new outreach projects aimed at Enfield’s Polish and Turkish communities, on which I have commissioned special surveys in the last few months. Plus a brand new collaboration between the CAB and the Royal British Legion which offers financial advice to serving members of the armed forces, veterans and their families.

“We will soon be announcing new telephone numbers and open days, but in the meantime why not contact us via our website www.enfieldcab.org.uk “

Cllr Alan Barker, Cabinet Member for Adult Social Services said “To us Vincent House is the home to 20 young people with disabilities who will be learning independence in the specially adapted flats which sit above the commercial space.

“These flats allow our young people the opportunity to learn to live on their own in the community, with the reassurance of knowing that support and care has been individually tailored to meet their needs.

“We as a council gave the land and partnership support to make this happen, and should be rightly proud of what we have achieved with this landmark building.”

This document was last updated on 2008-03-18 09:33:35 published by the Communications team. Document Reference:LBE_132565