9th March 2026
Last week tenants in Haxby hosted a visit at their home from their MP Luke Charters. The visit was an opportunity to talk with tenants John, Charlie and Matthew about the importance of having the right home.
Luke also met with Steve Secker, Chair of Golden Lane Housing’s board and housing officer Louise Robinson as well as members of the Mencap support team.
Speaking after the visit, Luke Charters MP said:
“It was a real pleasure to spend time with John, Charlie and Matthew, who are not just housemates but clearly good friends. It was wonderful to see them doing so well together and to hear first-hand what having the right support and a safe, secure place to live means to them. The cakes they had baked were absolutely delicious, and I also discovered that Charlie might be the biggest Strictly Come Dancing fan I’ve ever met.
Supported living is so important. A good home is about far more than bricks and mortar. It is about dignity, independence and the chance to build friendships and be part of the community. Golden Lane Housing is a wonderful organisations making a real difference to people with a learning disability and autistic people here in York and across the country.
What really stood out to me was the dedication of the support workers. They were exceptional. The warmth, patience and genuine care they show every day is remarkable. It is clear they do not just see this as a job. They truly care about the people they support and are committed to helping them live independently, confidently and happily.
They go above and beyond in ways that often go unseen, but which make a profound difference to families and to our community. We are incredibly lucky to have people like them here in York.
Thank you to John, Charlie, Matthew and the whole team for such a warm welcome. Visits like this remind me why supported living and the people behind it matter so much.”
Steve Secker, Chair of the Board, Golden Lane Housing:
“Luke’s visit was a wonderful opportunity to showcase the difference that high quality supported housing makes every single day. John, Charlie and Matthew embody exactly why our work matters, with the right home and support, people can flourish, build friendships and live with independence and dignity.
I’m incredibly proud of our teams and of our partnership with Mencap, whose dedication ensures our tenants feel safe, valued and supported. We are grateful to Luke for taking the time to meet everyone and for recognising the impact good supported living has on people’s lives and communities.”
The visit forms part of Luke Charters MP’s ongoing programme of constituency visits to local charities and community organisations across York Outer.