The Wilverley Association has been transformed from one woman’s dream starting with Forest Oaks into a professional, successful and reputable local charity, providing much more than just care, with two successful residential homes.
The Wilverley Association was first established in 1964 when Miss Blanche Hindson decided that Brockenhurst needed a residential facility for older people. Homes with care for older people were scarce and there was a significant need due to a large number of older people (women in particular) living alone as a result of the longer term effect of the World Wars. The Wilverley Association was set up as a charity with the aim of providing “housing and care for retired people and to give security in case of illness”. As a result, Forest Oaks was opened as a 46 bed Residential Care Home in Brockenhurst with funds raised from charities and donations from local benefactors.
There are two wings at Forest Oaks, The Loriston-Clarke Wing and The Hindson Wing. The Hindson Wing is dedicated to the founder of Forest Oaks, Blanche Hindson and The Loriston-Clarke Wing is dedicated to Cecily Loriston-Clarke one of our major benefactors to the nursing wing which was opened as a result of a significant increase in residents needing nursing care. In addition, Mr and Mrs Grey, local residents in Brockenhurst, generously donated their house ‘Anton House’ and gardens to Forest Oaks. Mr Grey was the manager at Lloyds Bank in Brockenhurst and was the Treasurer of The Wilverley Association Committee.
Little Haven was then built in 1973 after the land was generously donated by Major General MN Macleod and his wife Mrs Macleod. Major General MN Macleod is known for his work in Ordnance Survey, in 1923 he started the re-triangulation of Great Britain, and this on its own was an immense task but was also an extremely complex mathematical undertaking. So celebrated was the Major that we have traced him to the National Portrait Gallery in London. Little Haven is a 41 bed Residential and Nursing Care Home set in an acre of beautiful grounds in the peaceful village of Dibden Purlieu.
As a charity, The Wilverley Association makes no distributable profit, has no shareholders, and our Trustees (who are also the company’s directors) all work tirelessly on a completely voluntary basis. However, it still costs to provide the best standard of care for our residents, so money must be raised on a continual basis.
Another important aspect of our work is our benevolent fund which is nurtured to help those residents who might be struggling to pay fees at any particular time.
Forest Oaks and Little Haven are focused on providing professional, high quality compassionate care to ensure that residents maintain their independence, dignity and control over their own lives. We offer residential care, nursing care, end of life/palliative care and short term or respite care. Our residents are actively encouraged to have a say in the day to day running of their home and both homes have a relaxed, homely and welcoming atmosphere. The beautiful grounds and gardens are well kept and a wide range of activities, events, entertainment and outings are offered to our residents.
The ‘Wilverley Values’ of Family, Faithfulness, Compassion, Welcoming and Honesty underpin all that we do and say. This is what our residents, their families, our staff, and the local community can expect from us as a value driven organisation.
