Tea Time Transformation: Volunteers from Major Works partner spruce up Care Home Gardens

Residents at a care home in Woolwich enjoyed tea and cake while their garden was revamped, by volunteers from Axis Europe, one of our Major Works Investment Programme partners.

A team of seven volunteers from Axis headed to Rose Court in September, to paint the garden table and chairs, clear the weeds, lay bricks and install a new parasol and stand.

Rose Court is one of L&Q’s sheltered housing schemes for older people.

The volunteering day was part of the Social Value offering Axis committed to, along with our other partners, as part of the 15-year contract with L&Q. Axis had been refurbishing some of the residents’ kitchens as part of the contract, and noticed the communal garden could do with some extra attention.

Delivering Social Value is one of the six core principles of the programme, and is one of the formal measures of success for us and our partners.

We will be working with all partners to make sure we’re improving the communities within which residents live.

So far this year, the partnership has created new jobs for residents, apprenticeships, volunteering days, laptop donations, football academies and much more.

Mark Newstead, Director of Programmes at L&Q, said:

“It’s fantastic to see our partners, Axis’ staff, taking time out of their day to help residents. The garden looks wonderful, and it’s great to hear how pleased the residents at Rose Court were with the results.”

Sarah Cooper, Resident Liaison Officer at Axis, said:

“It was extremely rewarding, particularly when the residents all thanked us individually for our time and efforts."