A team of staff from various Nationwide Building Society branches within the local area undertook a team-building garden makeover at Active Prospects’ residential service for people with physical and learning disabilities, The Pines in Redhill, on Tuesday 28 February 2017. Active Prospects were approached by Susan Field, Project coordinator of Voluntary Action Reigate and Banstead (VARB) to organise the corporate volunteering activity.
The Nationwide team rolled up their sleeves in the garden and completed a general tidy up and mowed the lawn, in addition to erecting raised beds so that resident wheelchair users can take part in flower planting in the future. They also gave the existing garden furniture at the service a make-over, sanding and painting it purple, at the request of residents.
Not content with just donating their energies over the course of the day, the team also donated a colourful array of plants to brighten up the garden, ensuring that residents will benefit from a lovely view from their house as well as a chance to sit out in more attractive surroundings in spring and summer. Now that the garden has been improved, those living at the service will also be able to participate in weeding and planting the new beds as a therapeutic activity assisted by staff, meeting one of Active Prospects’ key objectives around ‘Active Support’.
Samantha Lucas, Branch Manager of Nationwide Building Society in Dorking said: “We had a really great day and feel we really achieved something in making the garden a nicer place for Active Prospects’ residents. It was such a positive experience that we are hoping to make this a regular volunteering activity three or four times a year across Active Prospects’ different services in East Surrey”.
Sue Stockman, Head of Business Development at Active Prospects said: “The people we support at The Pines really enjoyed having the Nationwide volunteers at their home and are delighted with their garden makeover. As the weather gets warmer they will enjoy sitting outside and having meals together in the sunshine.”
