This year, Amitola Communities celebrates its 40th anniversary – four decades of doing what we do best: providing meaningful, long-term mental health support to adults across York.
We’ve come a long way since opening our first care homes in 1985, when Penny and Dale Graver, both mental health nurses, established The Gravers care home, and Lynne Dexter, also a mental health nurse, opened The Dexters care home.
They didn’t just run the homes – they lived upstairs with their young families and shared the buildings with just three residents each. From those two houses, and with plenty of Yorkshire and Lincolnshire resilience, a community began to grow.
Now, forty years on, we’re a team of over 80 people, with three residential care homes in York and a full mental health recovery pathway that reaches well beyond our original front door.
Recognising Long-Standing Members of the Team
We’re proud to celebrate three team members who have each been with Amitola Communities for 20 years. That’s years of dedication, consistency, genuine care – and quite a few cups of tea along the way…
Laura Scaife – Office Manager, The Gravers
Laura has kept things running smoothly at The Gravers for the past 20 years. Her organisational skills and quiet dedication have been a vital part of the team, ensuring that residents and staff alike have the support they need, every single day.
Joanne Goldup – Deputy Manager, The Gravers
Joanne brings both leadership and compassion to her role. Her ability to support residents with care and understanding, while guiding her colleagues with calm confidence, has had a real impact on life at The Gravers.
Claire Jensen – Support Worker, The Dexters
At The Dexters, Claire has spent 20 years offering steady, unwavering support to those she cares for. Her kindness and commitment continue to make a meaningful difference to the everyday lives of our residents.
To Laura, Joanne and Claire – thank you. Your long service and care for others are part of what makes Amitola Communities feel like home.
40 Years On – Our Approach Remains the Same
We believe progress doesn’t always come from doing something new -sometimes it comes from doing the right things, consistently, with the right people.
Our approach is straightforward: offer the right level of support, in the right environment, for as long as it’s needed. Whether someone stays with us for a short time or many years, they are part of our community.
- Our residential care homes in York provide structured, therapeutic support for adults with complex mental health needs.
- At our recovery house York, we help people build confidence, structure and new routines at a pace that works for them.
We don’t rush the process. We work alongside people, build trust, and provide steady support. That’s what makes the difference.
Looking Ahead
As we reflect on the past 40 years, we’re also looking forward. We know mental health support is never one-size-fits-all, and we don’t believe in ticking boxes. We’re still learning, still listening, and always aiming to improve what we offer.
For now, we simply want to say thank you.
Whether you’ve lived in one of our homes, worked with us, referred someone our way, or just crossed paths with our team – thank you. These past four decades have only been possible because of the people who’ve helped shape what we do.
Every person on our team is proud of the work we do, the lives we’ve supported, and the community we’ve built. Here’s to another 40 years of care, community and, yes, plenty more cuppa teas.
