Jon Gooding signs the Associated Retirement Community Operators (ARCO) pledge

A RETIREMENT complex in Great Easton has given its support to a new trade association for the sector.

The Moat House, part of the Retirement Villages Ltd group, is one of the first members of the newly-formed Associated Retirement Community Operators (ARCO), launched in the House of Lords this week.

The association has set strict standards of membership as it looks to further drive up quality of care and housing provision through the sector, at the same time raising awareness of retirement communities as a growing mainstream option for older people, as the UK’s ageing population continues to rise.

Baroness Greengross, co-chairman of the All Party Parliamentary Group for Ageing and Older People gave her support to ARCO at its official launch in London this week. Cross party support also came from minister Baroness Hanham, shadow minister Jack Dromey and former minister Paul Burstow.

Jon Gooding, chief executive of the Moat House’s parent company Retirement Villages Ltd, is the appointed chairman of the newly-founded ARCO.

He said: “Retirement Villages has been calling for an association of this type for many years; it brings added measurement, confidence and credibility to a sector which will play a major part in the shaping of housing and care provision of the ageing population in future years.”

Retirement Villages Ltd is a pioneer of the retirement village model in this country. Moat House is one of 14 communities now operating across the UK.