Janet's story

I’d seen my mum always on her own and become a very lonely old lady. I have very little family and that could potentially happen to me and I thought if I get housebound I would be really unhappy. So I started to look for other ways of living that involved not being on my own.

I was planning for my future. I’m quite a gregarious person and the thought of not seeing a person for days is not a nice one. I would not be a very happy person if I couldn’t see people.

Last year I decided to put all my energy into cohousing. It became really important to me. I’m getting older, I didn’t know how long I’d have the energy to move and I just thought I’ve got to push on otherwise I’m going to end up as a lonely old woman.

Then, just before Christmas 2018 I saw an advert for a flat at Marmalade Lane, which I’d heard a lot about, and it just felt so much the right thing for me to do next. So I bought it. It was so exciting.

The area in Brighton where I was living wasn’t neighbourly at all. I’d tried with my neighbours but they just weren’t interested.

I wanted to know my neighbours, to know their names, have a cup of tea together.

Here, we have coffee mornings on Monday, Tuesday and Friday mornings and communal meals twice a week which are working really well. 

It’s so great being here. I love coming out my door and chatting to people. Everyone is friendly and so helpful. That’s what the ethos is about here, it’s helping each other. It means so much to me having that support and people knowing I’m here and caring that I’m here.

Getting older, it’s harder to deal with things. But here in my beautiful flat I don’t need to deal with anything on my own now. I feel so much more secure, safer and content.