We have submitted an offer to purchase and convert the Former Haltwhistle First School building and grounds into a 30 bedroomed Older persons care home, comprising of 20 residential care beds, 5 specialist dementia care beds and 5 nursing care beds. There would further be the intention to provide daycare centre services for older people living in the Haltwhistle and surrounding parish communities and a home care services hub. Providing daycare centre and home care services hub would support a continuity of care model for older people living at home in the community that may require 24 hour care in future. This would obviously be subject to necessary planning permission and change of use to C2  – Residential Institutions: - Residential Care Homes, Hospitals, Nursing Homes, Boarding Schools, Residential Colleges and Training Centres.

According to the 2021 census, the over 65's accounted for 28% of Haltwhistle's population of 3,639, compared to the national average of 19%. Haltwhistle and the surrounding parishes have not had a Care Home for older people since the closure of the Local Authority care home, Greenholme in 2009. The closest care home is now 9 miles away in Haydon Bridge, whose population is around 2,800 with the proportion of over 65's being 19% in line with the National average.  Other nearby towns and villages with smaller populations in the over 65's age category include Brampton, Cumbria which is 11 miles from Haltwhistle, has two Care Homes and a population of around 4,100, 23% of whom are over the age of 65 and Allendale village, which is 9.5 miles from Haltwhistle, has 1 care home and a population of just over 2,000, 23.8% of whom are over the age of 65. 

Since Haltwhistle lost the vital care home services provided by Greenholme, many, many members of the Haltwhistle community have had to leave their hometown, at a time in their lives when they are at their most vulnerable and they really need to be in familiar surroundings. Many friends and family members are not able to visit them as often as they would be able to, due to travel and transport links to some of the care homes in the region and neighbouring regions where residents have had to go to live due to the unavailability of a care home in the town. 

In addition to providing this vital service for the older members of the Haltwhistle community, a care home would bring employment to the town. The home would require an NMC registered Adult trained nurse (RNA) on every shift, 5 Care assistants on every shift, a Care Home Manager, Deputy Manager, Administrator, Grounds maintenance workers, kitchen and housekeeping teams. 

We have previously purchased a building within the town of Haltwhistle with the aim of providing a care home to our community. This was complicated by the covenants on the land being a church building and the vast changes that would have been required to achieve this dream. However, the former Haltwhistle First School building and site offers the perfect opportunity to achieve this dream service for our community. 

People of Haltwhistle and our surrounding parishes, please support our petition in the hope of us being able to provide this vital service to our community. We are aware of rumoured alternative bids to either provide additional social housing and also an application for an asset transfer to develop an outdoor activity centre. Whilst an activity centre may benefit the community economically, in terms of priority, with almost a third of our community aged over 65 and so many of our community members having to leave the community to access 24 hour care, we need a care home.

Thank you  

Terry & Rachel Christie