FORGET age and disbility - enthusiasm, support, self-esteem and independence are the cornerstones of village life, in an environment bursting with energy and vitality.

As former manager of Berryhill retirement village in Stoke on Trent, one of the first purpose built communities for older people in the UK, Angela Bradford is both enthusiastic and sincere when she speaks of the ExtraCare vision for the older generation.

Now assistant director of the ExtraCare Charitable Trust, Britain's leading provider of activity based care for older people, Angela is passionate about Berryhill and the Ryfields development in Warrington which is set for completion by 2002.

She said: "The ExtraCare vision is all about providing good quality accommodation and activity based support for older people, giving opportunities to learn new skills and put to use existing ones, making sure residents feel they're a valued part of the community.

"We aim to create opportunities for their talents to be explored which in turn boosts confidence and self-esteem. Village life puts age and disability to one side and gives residents their independence. Each care package is highly individual, we may give a maximum level of care and then slowly withdraw support, but with an agreed level residents are still able to achieve."

She insists that ExtraCare staff are not doers but enablers and that just because a resident can't do something, due to a stroke for example, there is no reason to accept that they never will, with an individual support plan, confidence and ability can be built upon and skills re-learnt.

"Many of the residents here would otherwise have been living in a traditional nursing or residential home, where their opportunities are limited and they would gradually disengage from social activities."

Angela is delighted at the interest that has been shown in the Ryfields retirement village development and is excited about the future.

"The people of Warrington will have a real chance to shape their own community and lifestyle and make informed and independent choices."