IN THE COMMUNITY: 3Mgives team helps create garden for Ravenswood members to enjoy

A garden at a care home for vulnerable people in Berkshire has been transformed by volunteers from 3M.

Twenty employees from the science-based technology company’s Bracknell HQ spent the day at the Tager Centre, in Crowthorne, on Tuesday, March 5.

The centre is home to 16 people with complex learning difficulties, including 14 with autism. It is part of Ravenswood, a collection of care homes in Berkshire run by Norwood, the UK’s largest Jewish charity supporting vulnerable children, families and people with learning disabilities and autism.

Home manager Sue Ravey said: “I have never seen the Tager garden looking so smart. The 3M volunteers did an amazing job and we’re incredibly grateful.

“I’m sure the people we support will enjoy looking out of their windows at this beautiful area, which had previously looked very tired. This will also help us to encourage them to increase their use and enjoyment of the outdoors, which greatly supports their physical and mental wellbeing.”

The project was organised as part of the 3Mgives volunteering programme, which encourages 3M employees across the UK to volunteer in their local communities.

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A significant part of the work involved creating a new square area by levelling a sloping patch of grass. Later, the Ravenswood team will pave this area with patio stones and add two companion seats donated by 3M, together worth £320.

The volunteers – all from 3M’s human resources team in Bracknell – also planted a Morello Cherry tree, a high Photinia Red Robin hedge to disguise the bike shed, and colourful low-level hedging on three sides of the garden.

In addition, they pressure washed a paved area, pulled weeds, removed moss, reshaped boxed hedging and got rid of unwanted buddleia shrubs.

Nicky Oakley, talent development specialist for HR domestic operations at 3M, said: “We had a brilliant, productive and sunny day at Ravenswood. We’re thrilled to hear that the garden and seating area that the 3M HR team created will be such a benefit to the residents of Tager and their families.”

Ravenswood was established in 1953, by four families aiming to provide education and care for their children and others with a learning disability.

Today, it is home to more than 100 people with learning disabilities living in registered care homes across 120 acres of countryside.

All residents receive person-centred care, funded by their local authority, from a support team comprising more than 300 workers.

Julia Hall, Norwood’s head of adult services in Berkshire, said: “From all of us here at Ravenswood, I want to thank the amazing 3M team for delivering such a fantastic project for the people we support at Tager.

“They have given the residents a wonderful space to enjoy the outdoors in a safe and calming environment.

“Projects like these make a significant difference to the support and services we are able to provide and we are incredibly thankful to 3M and the volunteers.”