Volunteers from Chelsea Football Club (FC) spent a day revitalising the communal garden at a supported housing scheme.
Managed by Notting Hill Genesis (NHG), Bramley Gardens is a sheltered scheme for older people in Kensington. The flats surround a large garden which had become rather tired and overgrown.
NHG’s volunteer programme produces a list each year of small and large community projects, and works closely with social purpose organisation Works4U which sources corporate partners for the projects.
Chelsea FC was keen to develop community relations and connections with their local community and were particularly interested in the north Kensington area, so the Bramley Gardens project was a perfect fit.
Thanks to the efforts of five volunteers, the whole garden was tidied and weeded and new bark and soil was distributed. Over 30 flowers and shrubs were planted, five benches were sanded and stained and all the paved areas were jet-washed and cleaned. NHG even provided local fish and chips for everyone at lunchtime!
Mandy Worster, volunteer programme manager at NHG, said: ‘The residents are delighted, saying that the benches and outside area look “brand new” and “fresh”, and that they look forward to enjoying and socialising more in the revamped garden.’
Frank Spraggs, community engagement lead at Chelsea FC, said: ‘This was a great day out for the team, we’re really glad to have made a difference. Thank you to Works4U for organising and NHG for hosting us.’
Mandy continued, ‘I can’t thank all the volunteers enough for their hard work, positive energy and commitment to making a change, the garden looks amazing.’