Released:
9:26 am, June 26, 2022
Dereham’s latest Prince’s Trust cohort has completed a stunning makeover of a care home’s derelict garden.
Members of Team 182 were at the Woodstock Care Home in Gressenhall on Friday to unveil the results of their hard work.
The garden of Woodstock Care Home in Gressenhall has been transformed by Prince’s Trust volunteers
– Photo credit: Danielle Booden
They completed the transformation in the fifth week of their program with the Trust, after 10 days of planning for the project.
As usual, the 12-week initiative will be led from Dereham Fire Station by the Norfolk Fire and Rescue Service’s youth development department, of which Chantelle Williams was the proud leader.
“Individually these guys are fantastic youngsters but as a team they are unstoppable,” she said.
Mari Mourao, manager of Woodstock Care Home in Gressenhall, cuts the ribbon to launch the redesigned garden
– Credit: Denielle Booden
“In terms of what they have achieved, the proof is in the pudding.
“The majority of these guys took this class to build confidence and ease their anxiety. Talking to new people has helped them and they’ve come this far in the last five weeks.”
The Woodstock project came about after activities coordinator Naomi Daglish contacted her local Prince’s Trust program about the garden renovation.
A picture of the Woodstock Care Home garden in its former state
– Photo credit: Danielle Booden
She put together a proposal and managed to persuade the members of the Dereham team to choose it as their course project.
“I gave them a few ideas but the work they’ve done is absolutely amazing,” Ms Daglish said.
“Even though I imagined what it could look like, I never thought it would be this awesome. They should be really proud of themselves and we really can’t thank them enough for what they have done.
Naomi Daglish, Activities Coordinator at Woodstock Care Home in Gressenhall
– Photo credit: Danielle Booden
“It’s amazing when groups like this are willing to come out and support care homes. All the residents have been watching through the windows and it really makes them feel special.”
One of those who has benefited from the program is Brandon Harding, who has a speech impediment and is having trouble finding work.
He said the Prince’s Trust experience has already given him renewed confidence.
“Employers turned their noses up at me because of my disability,” he said. “They thought I was distracting or costly to what they do.
“Come here [with the Prince’s Trust] was the next best option and it’s going very well. I love every second of it.”