Theresa Villiers, MP for Chipping Barnet, formally launched the construction phase of new homes in Union Street in High Barnet on Friday. This project is run by a group called the Older Women’s Co-Housing project (or 'OWCH'), with the assistance of the Housing for Women Charity. It will provide homes for older women who intend to provide mutual support to the more elderly members of the community.
The opening speech of the event was made by Shirley Meredeen of OWCH. In her speech to the people gathered from OWCH and many local Barnet groups, Theresa Villiers said:
“I welcome these new homes in my constituency. When my constituent, Angela Ratcliffe first came to my advice bureau around three years ago to talk to me about this project, I wasn’t sure that it would ever happen. Angela convinced me to support it, and it is a tribute to the determination of the strong minded women who make up OWCH that this is now going ahead.”
“As Shirley said, combating loneliness in old age is a key goal for this initiative. As our population grows older, this issue becomes more and more important. I wish this project well and commend OWCH and all the different groups involved for getting it off the ground.”