PPM Employees volunteer to help create sensory garden for local Cumbrian charity
- Thursday, 07 June 2018
- Written by PPM Ltd
PPM employees have come to rescue of Chrysalis, a local Cumbrian charity that supports adults with a wide variety of learning disabilities and acquired brain injuries, who were looking for businesses to help to get their sensory garden project well and truly off the ground.
Pam Oddy, Business Manager at Chrysalis met our Communications and Development Officer, Beth at the Cumbria CVS Volunteering event in Penrith in March 2018. Beth presented at the event about the PPM Staff Volunteering scheme, giving examples of volunteering projects that we have been involved in and promoting the skills of our workforce to organisations in attendance who may have volunteering projects they needed help with.
Pam had plans to create a wonderful sensory garden, which would be accessible for all Chrysalis members to explore and enjoy at their base in Wigton. Not only this but the members themselves will be involved in every step of the way, from planning the design and resources to be used; helping with the initial planting and installations; to maintaining the garden well into the future with planned sessions from gardening ‘experts’.
The first stage of the project was to move three raised beds made from railway sleepers from their current location in the garden and create two new beds in a different location. To do this Pam needed the relevant joinery skills and labour which PPM were able to offer, it was a perfect match.
Our PPM staff from our Workington branch including one of our Supervisors and trade apprentices’ were delighted to use their volunteering days to work on this fantastic project. It was hard work and they came across of number of issues, one being the huge volume of soil that needed to be moved but this didn’t deter them and they battled through. It was incredibly satisfying to see the end result and everyone involved is looking forward to seeing the completed sensory garden.
Pam Oddy, Business Manager at Chrysalis said: “Here at Chrysalis we’re delighted with the raised beds erected by PPM. This is the first step to our new sensory garden and our members can’t wait to start planting them all! Thank you so much for your help.”
Chrysalis hope that the finished garden will be a setting for the wider community, including school groups, to join their members at BBQ’s and garden parties and see for themselves the pleasures the members get from such a worthy project!
Picture: Planters in their old position
Picture: Area planters to be moved to
Picture: Work in progress
Picture: Two of our wonderful volunteers who put their heart and soul into the work.
Picture: Work in progress
Picture: The finished product
Chrysalis
Chrysalis was established in 1984 to provide support services for adults with a wide variety of learning difficulties and acquired brain injuries. They provide support across North Cumbria in a number of creative ways, depending upon the needs and wishes of the individual. They offer a wired range of activities from their base at Leaside in Wigton including creative arts, horticulture, a range of sports and developing independence.
If you would like to visit the Chrysalis website please Click Here