Y Gorlan celebrates 35 years landmark anniversary

A Grandmother from Bangor has heaped praise on the sheltered accommodation scheme where she has raised her family, as Y Gorlan celebrates a landmark anniversary.

Glenys Rowlands was the first person to move into the Y Gorlan development in Bangor after taking the job as a live-in warden, moving into her home in 1987 with her husband and three children, then aged seven, three and two.

Now Glenys enjoys welcoming her grandchildren to Y Gorlan and says the development has had a massive impact on the lives of hundreds of residents over her time there.

Y Gorlan is situated in the heart of Bangor and is run by North Wales Housing.

It sees residents maintain an active social life while enjoying all the benefits of living in a sheltered accommodation scheme that allows people to maintain their independence.

Glenys said:

“Our aim is to create a community feel and independence for residents for as long as possible whilst offering support where needed.

“Residents can feel safe and secure in the knowledge that assistance is always on-hand in an emergency.

“Over the years, the people living here have become like an extended family, they have watched my children grow up and this is something I wouldn’t have changed for the world.”

Tenants regularly enjoy day trips together and the landlord has run volunteering sessions for students at Bangor University who would make tea and put on activities for the residents.

The scheme offers 31 easy to manage self-contained apartments for people over 60 and gives the option for family visitors to use a guest room at a small fee.

Life at Y Gorlan has changed significantly over the years and is now home to a mix of tenants with different needs. Before her role as a live-in warden, Glenys trained to become a nurse, where she has seen her skills come to hand when residents have been ill.

Glenys added:

“There is an emphasis at Y Gorlan spending time with people face-to-face as a way to help tackle loneliness, particularly after the pandemic. The accommodation has a common room for residents to connect and there is a regular coffee morning every fortnight, including ones for charity.”

There are no plans for Glenys to give up work at Y Gorlan. She has become the heart and soul of the sheltered accommodation and has offered a friendly face to residents in need of support.

Eirlys Parry, Head of Older Persons said:

“This is a great celebration for Y Gorlan. We are extremely lucky to have Glenys managing the scheme over the years, she is an asset to North Wales Housing and we’re so grateful of all her hard work. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts Glenys.

Happy Birthday to Y Gorlan, we hope you enjoyed your celebration; here’s to the next 35 years!”