Eastlight Stories: Supporting independence through accessible homes

This week we meet Govin and Rama Mouttoucoumarane, who live in Witham.

Originally from India, they met, married and built the foundations of their life there before moving to the UK.

In 2019, they moved into an Eastlight affordable bungalow designed around Rama’s mobility needs and wheelchair use. With wider doorways, adapted kitchen facilities and an accessible bathroom, the home has given Rama greater independence and made everyday life easier, safer and more comfortable.

Govin and Rama also play an active role in Eastlight’s resident activities. As members of Witham’s Eastlight Resident Group, they take part in local walkabouts to identify areas of improvement. They enjoy sharing their experiences and ideas to help shape services for others.

Their story explores why having a home that meets your needs matters – and why community, family and having your voice heard matter too.

Listen to their story below.

Five stories. One legacy.

Over the next few Fridays, Eastlight Stories will introduce more residents and their experiences.

• Out Now – Bobbie Town: Bobbie shares how she's putting down roots in her community after rebuilding, finding stability and moving forward after being homeless.
• Out Now – Richard and Rosemarie Bessey: Their story explores love, caring, resilience and the importance of having a home filled with familiarity and memories.
• Out Now – Govin and Rama Mouttoucoumarane: Their story explores accessibility, independence, community and the importance of having a home that genuinely meets your needs.
• 2 October – Jo Jones: Jo shares her experience of starting again after homelessness, building a life in her community and using her voice to influence Eastlight’s services.
• 9 October – Rue Garande: Rue talks about finding safety and security for herself and her daughter after domestic abuse, and about using her experience to make sure residents’ voices are heard. 

Together, these stories create the social history Hattie wanted to see – a record of the people who make up Eastlight and the lives they are building around their homes.

Hattie’s career was shaped by a deep belief in fairness, dignity and lived experience. At Eastlight, she helped create an organisation where residents’ voices could influence decisions, services and the way the organisation thinks.

She wanted Eastlight Stories to capture something that cannot be found in statistics or performance reports: the human experience of having a home.

This series is dedicated to her memory. It is a fulfilment of her wish. And, most importantly, it puts residents’ voices exactly where Hattie believed they belonged – at the heart of Eastlight.