It’s Scottish Housing Day today and the theme is good neighbours and strong communities. To mark the occasion, I caught up with a few of the residents at Nigel Henderson Court in Sanquhar to talk about what community and neighbourhood means to them.
Gladys, who has lived at the court for four years, told me about the busy social calendar the residents enjoy together. “We have regular meals and trips out. We go out for St Andrew’s Day, Burns Night and Christmas, and we have about six day trips every year to places like Ayr, the Galloway Coast, Carlisle, Thornhill and Lockerbie. There is always a good lunch planned!”
Nancy, who has called Nigel Henderson Court home for nine years, added: “We do dominoes and bingo at the court too. And sometimes we have singers come along as well.”
But it’s not just about the events, it’s also about the way residents look after one another.
Kathleen, who has lived at the court for 20 years, explained: “We help each other out. We look out for one another. We look in on people who aren’t as mobile and find it difficult to get out. If anyone is ill, then we check in on them and see if there is anything we can do for them. I have a friend whose eyesight isn’t very good so I will always check in on her to see if there is anything I can do to help.”
Neighbours often lend a hand with everyday things too. Kathleen added: “If people are going to the shops they’ll ask around to see if anyone needs anything. Nancy takes me to Dumfries every week in her car – we always have lunch and we do a bit of shopping.”
She summed up what being a good neighbour means to her: “Being a good neighbour is being there when they need you. You can depend on them. It makes you happy if you have a good community around you – it improves your wellbeing definitely. Residents have family scattered across the country so having this tightknit community around us is very important.”
Kathleen reflected on moving into Nigel Henderson Court from Glasgow two decades ago: “To begin with I found it odd that everyone knew everyone’s business. But when I went into hospital for an operation, my daughter came down to visit me and someone gave her flowers because they knew who she was. I thought that was lovely!”
Sometimes it’s the smallest moments that make the biggest difference. Kathleen explained: “I sit in the communal lounge when my washing is on to save me going back up the stairs and there’s always someone who pops in for a chat if they’re passing. So I’m never lonely.”
At Nigel Henderson Court, neighbours aren’t just neighbours – they’re companions, friends, and an extended family. And as today’s Scottish Housing Day reminds us, that’s what makes a house a home and a community truly special.
