Charles May House has been adapted and extended out of the former St Mary’s Cottage, and is set in attractive, communal gardens about a hundred yards distant from the town centre. It is administered by Trustees of the Ogilvie Charities, and is registered with the Charity Commission and the Regulator of Social Housing.
The accommodation at Charles May House comprises of eight purpose-built one-bedroom flats, each of which has its own separate living room, kitchen and bathroom. Four flats are situated at ground-floor level and four are on the first floor: all are suitable for couples or single persons. In addition, there is a two bed roomed first floor apartment and a one bed roomed split level apartment in the original part of the building; both of these have their own kitchens and bathrooms. There is also a lounge with guest room facilities for general use.
Each of the eight flats has an independent, gas-fired, central heating and domestic hot water system. The apartments in the original building, on the other hand, receive their heating and hot water from a communal system which also supplies the common areas and lounge. All have independently metered electricity supplies. Charles May House provides, therefore, self- contained housing accommodation. It is not a Residential Home for older people or a Nursing Home. It offers the security of a Scheme Manager who is responsible for exercising general and unobtrusive supervision of the occupants well-being and sees that they receive any help needed. An audio alarm system linking each of the flats with the Scheme Manager, ensures that assistance can be summoned readily in an emergency. ‘Cover’ for periods when the Scheme Manager is not available is provided by Colchester City Council ‘Helpline’ service linked to our system. Relatives and friends are encouraged to help the residents when required, and it is expected that the medical, nursing, and Social Services (such as home help), of the Health Authority and the County Council, will be available to those living at Charles May House, in exactly the same way as to others with homes elsewhere in the local community. Nevertheless, for the good of all, it has to be said that residents cannot remain and be cared for there during illnesses of a kind which would not normally be coped with in their own homes, and in those extreme circumstances, or if they cause undue distress to other residents, they will be required to leave.
Because of the open-plan nature of the ornamental grounds surrounding Charles May House, dogs and cats cannot be kept by residents.
