Simon Whalley is the Chairman of the Birtley House Group Ltd which provides full nursing care and supported living at Birtley House in Surrey. The Nursing Home (Eyhurst Court Ltd) was registered in 1932 by Simon’s grandparents making it probably the oldest private care home, still managed by the founding family, in Britain.
Birtley House was a designated Showcase for Surrey County Council’s energy event in 2011 for its extensive environmental activities including biomass heating for the care home and it hosts a major sculpture exhibition amongst many other events attracting large numbers of visitors each year.
Simon helped set up Surrey Hills Enterprises CIC, which he now chairs to build a brand for the Surrey Hills rural economy, promote local produce and help conserve the National Landscape environment, with over 230 members. The Care Home has won recognition nationally for its environmental and community work with an interactive programme of support for young people with learning difficulties and outdoor courses ranging from bee-keeping, stone carving and willow weaving to mindfulness sessions and a pre-school Forest School in the Birtley woodlands. All these help provide a strong community engagement for residents in the Care Home and Supported Living accommodation.