By community reporter
Residents at Sir Karl Cohen Square sheltered housing complex in Armley had their community garden spruced up by a team of volunteers.
The revamp came about following a series of residents’ meetings at the Council’s Retirement LIFE managed complex in March, where tenants and staff mentioned that they would like to have some help with improving the communal outdoor area.
Cllr Andy Parnham (Lab, Armley) attended. He said “I wasn’t sure how best to help so got in touch with Dawn Newsome (CEO of Armley Helping Hands) because I though she might have contacts who could help.
“Also when I mentioned the opportunities that Armley Helping Hands offered, none of the residents were accessing those services and I wanted them to meet Dawn and learn more.”
Dawn Newsome joined Cllr Parnham at the next residents’ meeting the following week to look at the garden and said she knew businesses that could provide staff who volunteer time.
Dawn said: “After an initial meeting we identified two significant factors which we felt would assist to improve the quality of life of the residents.
“Firstly, supporting digital inclusion, especially around using mobile phones. We implemented two digital sessions in which residents participated in learning how to use their mobile phones in a more productive way.”
The aim of these sessions was to help establish a community resident WhatsApp group and creating a platform for mutual aid with tasks such as helping with neighbour’s shopping, collecting medicines and raising awareness of community events. Another major benefit of the digital sessions was to enable residents to quickly alert others to any suspicious activity within the complex.
Ms Newsome added “The second factor was to address the tired communal garden to give residents an opportunity to have a place to meet and enjoy the pleasures of natural environment.”
Cllr Parnham offered to support the project by awarding £350 of MICE money to fund the purchase of bulbs, compost and other materials. In order to get a volunteer workforce to achieve the vision.
Dawn reached out to her Social Value partners asking if any of them could provide support and intervention to improve the community garden. Ben Kearns, Policy Assistant at West Yorkshire Combined Authority (WYCA) took up the challenge and volunteered himself and 8 of his colleagues to assist the residents in improving their communal garden.
The date for the big garden clean-up was set and residents Marjorie, Fran, Tracey and Sharon were tasked with preparing lunch to show their appreciation to the volunteers taking part. Besides planting bulbs, weeding, digging and painting in the garden, the WYCA volunteers also made the decision to litter pick, sweep up and had a general tidy up around the building.
One of the delighted residents said of the volunteers: “We are so pleased for everything you have done today, you have completed more than we would have ever achieved ourselves. Thank you so much for helping us, remember there’s always a cuppa and a homemade cake if you want to return.”
Lauren King, Support Officer with the Retirement LIFE service that manages Sir Karl Cohen Square, said “On behalf of all residents and colleagues at Sir Karl Cohen Square, we would like to say a huge thank you to Councillor Andy Parnham, the volunteers of West Yorkshire Combined Authority and Armley Helping Hands.
“Through your hard work and generosity, we have been given the gift of a beautifully restored garden which will be enjoyed for years to come.”
For more information about Retirement LIFE housing, click here.
For further information about Armley Helping Hands and the services they provide for over 55s can be found here. AHH’s Facebook page can be found here.
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