On Saturday 6th September, five members of staff from the Society's Head Office spent the morning giving the outdoor area of a residential centre a makeover, following a request from resident Mrs Day for help from the Society's 'Make A Difference Committee.'

The team spent the morning at Nursery Way Residents Centre, Comberton, Cambridgeshire - sanding down and varnishing garden furniture and clearing a gravelled area outside the main communal building. The British weather had taken its toll on a number of the benches, leaving them discoloured and grubby. One bench in particular had to be taken apart so that the ironwork could also be painted, offering much needed protection from the elements.

As well as sprucing up the outside furniture, the team weeded and swept a paved courtyard that many of the elderly residents use in the warmer weather.

Perhaps the biggest task of the morning was to tidy up a gravelled area at the front of the centre. The area had become overgrown and was in need of some TLC. This required removing the gravel, weeding, cutting back, laying a new membrane to stop the weeds coming back and finally re-laying the gravel.

Left: The task in hand. Right: The team get started on the gravelled area.


Left: The sanding gets underway. Right: Garden furniture is given a new lease of life.


Left: The gravel is placed over the new membrane. Right: Members of the MAD team take a well deserved break with local resident Mrs Day. 

All in all the rain held off and the MAD team were very satisfied with their morning's work.

Mrs Day, a local resident at Nursery Way said :

“Thank you for all the hard work you did for us on our garden and the benches, it was much appreciated. It looks a great deal better and all the residents are very grateful.”