Care Home Garden Receives Face-lift Thanks To Prince’s Trust Students

The Prince’s Trust Team programme has been supporting young people from different background and levels of achievement to work together in their local communities. Over the last 25 years, the programme has been developed to meet changing needs, including increasing the focus on employability skills to a more clearly-defined target group.

Community projects are a key part of the Team programme, both to the development of teamwork and the Team’s contribution to the community. All projects are based on a volunteering basis and the cost is fully covered by the fundraising events that the young people organise.

After visiting three different organisations, Team 4 “The Unstoppable” consisting of 8 young people aged 17 to 25 years old decided on undertaking their project at Sanctuary Care’s Parkview House Residential Care Home in Edmonton. They found the project to be the most worthwhile for the residents and the Team was looking forward to giving the home’s garden a facelift for the enjoyment of residents and staff.

The Team started their project on the 13th June and finished on the 24th June 2016. They firstly had to plan for their project (i.e what equipment to purchase, delegating roles and responsibilities and creating a timeline). They agreed with the Care Home staff to plant some flowers, put a new shed and set a space for tables and chairs.

Prior to the start of the project, the Team organised fundraising activities to finance the entire project expenditure. They organised a car wash for College staff, a bake sale at the Prince’s Trust head office, and a fitness challenge for students and staff. During this week they have raised £231.12. Their target being £500, Bloomberg Ltd employees (a business partner) kindly donated £444 and also volunteered their time to help in the garden.

Despite imperfect weather over the last two weeks, the Team really enjoyed seeing the result of their hard work.

They said: “We would like to thank the Care Home for providing such a peaceful working environment and lunches. “All the adjustment made by the team should be a benefit for the future, and we hope that all the residents would spend beautiful summers in their new garden.”