Friends of Ashgrove

The project was born following a series of consultations with family members and carers of the care home residents which indicated a strong need for introducing a service that focused entirely on the residents’ wellbeing and their relationships with the local community, as they can often feel lonely and isolated.
We will train volunteers to provide companionship and emotional support as well as 1:1 relationships with elderly residents who can often fell overlooked by society. We believe that introducing the Building Stronger Bridges project at Ashgrove will not only build a stronger local community, but will also benefit the residents who have requested more activities.
Local residents will play a key role in the establishment of the project. Providing this opportunity for people to make a difference to their elderly neighbours can break down islands within the local community. Local residents will be given the chance to connect and spend time with older residents. The initiative will strengthen the community as local volunteers learn from and engage with the older generation in a humbling experience. This project is a chance to learn that care homes are not places to be afraid of or to avoid. For the residents, it is a chance to see new faces, discover different interests and stories and, as a result, make each day different. Fostering social interaction and commitment to looking after each other is a vital step in growing healthy and strong communities.

In her spare time, Inayah likes to keep up with the current news and often babysits for her mother’s friends, “that gave me the experience of working with vulnerable people”, she explained. She also enjoys learning and studying new topics whenever she has the chance.

Inayah felt a sudden need to start helping others in her community, “I lacked the fulfilment that others had when they did something for the sake of other people’s happiness”, and so she decided to join the Ashgrove Care Home with no hesitation when her school offered her the opportunity to volunteer. The particular age group in care homes appealed to Inayah as she has always gotten along with the elderly, “I love listening to the many stories they have of their past, the good and the bad times”, she mentioned. Her school then arranged a training session for her with the Ashgrove staff, before she had the chance to start at the care home.

Inayah had never volunteered before Ashgrove so it was an experience that she was really looking forward to. When she joined, she would spend her time at the care home sitting down with the residents, having long chats while they enjoyed tea and biscuits. She would also occasionally play board games with the residents and listen to music with them, “it was really beneficial for them to have stimulating conversations and reminding them of the simple and fun things in life such as playing board games”, she commented.

Inayah got along really well with two residents in particular; Edward and Ivy. “I enjoyed talking to them and learning about their pasts. It was really fun listening to them and watching them light up when they were talking about the good times they had in their lives”, Inayah expressed. Her time with the Ashgrove residents allowed her to develop a greater sense of patience and interpersonal skills; communicating with the residents both verbally and non-verbally allowed her to grow on those skills.

Her time at Ashgrove has inspired her to go forth and continue volunteering in her community by working with children or helping the homeless. Her experience has also been a source of inspiration in her plans for her future, “it gave me the chance to see if I would want a career in taking care of others which contributed to my interest in the law as many individuals’ rights are stripped from them. I also aim to open a volunteering organisation after I have settled into my dream career”, Inayah announced.

As well as the skills that Inayah developed on through her experience, leadership skills, professionalism and teamwork are some of the skills that she would argue are required for anyone who is looking to be an exceptional volunteer at a care home. Inayah advises volunteers to “make the most of it because not everyone gets to volunteer full time. They should also be open-minded so that they have a sense of the hardships that other people go through”.

Inayah had an unforgettable experience at Ashgrove that showed her the importance of volunteering. She felt the immense gratitude that comes with helping others in your community; “the best part of volunteering is knowing that I am putting others’ needs above my own to make sure that their wellbeing is looked after”, Inayah said, and added, “volunteering is one of the most valuable experiences you will have in your life”.

Whilst part of the team spent their visit focusing on renewing the raised flower beds with some paint and planting fresh flowers, the other half of the group continued with jet washing the patio area. With the help of new paint and flowers, the volunteers brought back life into the old flower beds. The newly placed daffodils and tulips helped to complete the renovated look.

They all worked to help the area look like a completely new and restored outdoor space for the care home. The residents and staff members of Ashgrove were very pleased with the outcome and will now fully appreciate the outdoor space of the care home.

The service offers residents of Ashgrove Care Home a range of goods to purchase including books, music records, cards, toiletries, gifts, and sweets. The residents can make independent choices and treat themselves or their loved ones by choosing items from the “shop on wheels”.

Not only does Trolley Service respond to residents’ need of purchasing basic goods, but it also provides an opportunity to chat with volunteers on duty. Visiting the residents’ room on a regular basis allows volunteers to engage with residents and brighten their day with a chat. Conversation – a seemingly simple act – can make a great impact on an elderly person’s sense of well-being. The Trolley Service also captures some of the elements of life happening outside of the care home which residents long for the most. Incidental chit-chats resulting from the service stand a chance to become a beginning of friendships and meaningful relationships between residents and volunteers, allowing volunteers to play an active role in making residents’ lives more enjoyable.

In the rear garden they had raised beds assembled along with a new bench being installed so that residents are able to sit outside and appreciate their new garden. Finally to keep the garden looking presentable and in good condition the paths were jet washed to clear them of grit and dirt and the pergola was oiled to keep it looking good as new.

Visits such as these are very important to the Home as many residents have difficulty with movement and can’t go outside unaided. These visits mean is that they are able to meet new people and have a chat with them, which is often very significant for the residents of the home.

Their plan was to develop on what previous volunteers from Heathrow had come to the home to do. So on Saturday 12^th August 2017 the group came to the home and painted the benches and the outside of the fence so that the Home looks more welcoming to neighbours and visitors.

In the front of the Home a new garden was created, the volunteers installed two new plant boxes and built two benches. The outside space within the home is very important to residents, as many have difficulty getting outdoors and the new gardens mean they are still able to go outside and enjoy a change of environment.

The home were keen to develop a section of garden at the front of the home that was not being used. The group installed raised beds and benches in the area which were purchased by the Friends of Ashgrove. They then filled these beds with plants and flowers which were generously donated by Heathrow. The area is now a useable space residents can enjoy to sit and relax in.

This project will be a trolley service, with the aim to improve each of the lives of the 50 residents of the home. By setting up a trolley service it means that Friends can visit the residents in their room on a daily basis, to offer the option of buying items or just having a chat. Following from this, other activities will develop.

What happens on the trolley will vary: it may be sweets one day, toiletries, or books on another or even a theme for the holidays, for example Christmas.  It will be an opportunity for the residents to treat themselves or a loved one, even if they are unable to get out to the shops. Even if the residents don’t wish to buy anything, the trolley service will encourage friendly chats on a daily basis and help to ease the loneliness and isolation that can occur.

Volunteers will be trained and will run the trolley service, to give the residents a chance to see new faces and make some new friends.

The residents will be encouraged to request items such as socks or toiletries, and the trolley will have some small freebies to give away.

The Friends are waiting to find out if they have been successful in securing funding to run a trolley service in the home and develop the activities room.

We have recruited over 20 volunteer from a local sixth form and are keen to get them started in the home.

Leaves were raked, hedges trimmed, and fences coated. The aim is to make everything tidy and attractive for the cold winter months.

Additionally, the volunteers did some more work on the space that is being converted into an Activities Room for the residents.

Alongside this, nearly 30 friends spent time talking to residents at different points during the day. Milly also joined in the visits and made new friends too.

The first day time began with a session on getting to know the home and David Wood ran a short session on dementia awareness. The group then met and spent time with the residents in some of the lounges.

On the second day the group returned much to the delight of the residents. The group brought sporting equipment and played games and chatted to residents.

The group left feeling enthused and are looking forward to returning next month to work on the gardens and painting fences at the home.

As part of his role, he is patron of each of the friends groups in care homes.

Pictured here, he is talking to Nichole, project manager, and Kahlil who is newly appointed to the team. He was delighted to hear of the progress to date.

Volunteers are currently running a very successful teashop on Fridays. They are awaiting a response to the fundraising bid recently submitted to purchase a trolley to enable them to run a regular trolley service.

On Monday 1^st August 2 dozen young people who are part of the National Citizenship Service visited the home.

They had already been to visit the home for a planning session a week earlier and had also done some fundraising and bought plants and pots and painting equipment. They had planned to paint a mural on two of the homes internal walls and also tidy and plant in the garden areas.

On the day the groups spilt into two groups one to focus on the garden area and the other to work on the mural on the top floor.

There was lots of planting, digging over and cutting back to be done in both the front and rear gardens. The Friends donated large pots and plants for the garden space off the ground floor dining room. The young people painted the garden shed a light blue colour and we heard positive comments from staff, residents and relatives. The second group worked on 2 murals upstairs. One wall was a sky scene and the other was a balloons scene.

We were pleased to see Deepak one of the Friends volunteers  and his young son come to help on the day.

Everyone met in the garden for lunch. The home provided a delicious spread and Deepak brought samosas, cake and even went to collect takeaway pizza. It was great to see some of the residents come and sit outside and join us all for ice cream in the garden.

After lunch everyone got back to work finishing off the gardening and painting and there was lots of tidying up to do.  It was great to see the difference the efforts of everyone had made. The garden was tidier and new flowers and trees really brightened up the space. The mural looked great and the colours used looked fantastic

The first day time began with a session on getting to know the home and David Wood ran a short session on dementia awareness. The group then met and spent  time with the residents in some of the lounges. The residents were thrilled to have a group of young visitors in for  the afternoon and were sorry to see them leave.

On the second day the group returned much to the delight of the residents. The group brought percussion instruments to perform samba music for the residents they had been rehearsing for the past week.

As it was a lovely sunny day we were fortunate to be able to hold the event in the garden area. Residents enjoyed the performance and it was inspiring to see the young people interacting with residents and encouraging them to bang the drums and play other instruments.

Their time began with an interview from David Wood and Nichole Wheaton who are Chair and Secretary of the Friends Group.

As part of their work, the young people want to do a campaign in the community. They are particularly keen to raise the profile of the residents of Ashgrove as still being part of the community. They are not shut away, but still have a voice, something to contribute.

David and Nichole then gave a presentation on dementia.

The young people then split into two groups, and spent an hour in the lounges talking to residents with a member of HC-One Staff.

One of the young people said: “It was amazing, I have never met anyone with dementia, and I did it! I came on the programme because I have confidence issues and I never thought this might be a way to begin overcoming them”.

Judith Activities Co-ordinator said “I was amazed at the difference enthusiastic young people made to the residents. People who I am used to looking at just chilling in their chairs suddenly perked up. They were sitting on the edge of their chair looking animated and getting involved”

National Citizenship Service (NCS) Visit

They had already carried out an awareness raising campaign in the community, highlighting that people in care homes need to be remembered and reached out to by people living nearby.

They had also done some fundraising and bought plants and pots.

On the day there was lots of planting, digging over and cutting back to be done as well as making the front of the home look neat and bright for the winter. The staff commented on how beautiful it all looked.

The second group planned and prepared a party for the residents. They planned the event, decorated the room, thought about the refreshments and the ambiance. The party was enjoyed by all those who attended.

Overall, it was a fantastic effort.

Thank you everyone!