Larchwood Care

A team of volunteers from Sky have used their company encouraged community engagement time to brighten up the garden of Whitby House care home.

Ten members from the digital television provider’s team gave up a day of their time pruning, weeding, and painting to enhance the Ellesmere Port care home’s outdoor space.

The initiative was arranged after Sky engineer, Natasha Flett, who lives close to the home and prior to joining Sky worked in elderly care, contacted home manager Angela Earlham to offer the team’s help.

Angela Earlam, home manager at Whitby House care home, said: “I was pleasantly surprised to hear from Natasha and quickly accepted her very kind offer to spruce up our garden area.

“We used to regularly get visits from volunteers who planted lots of lovely flowers, but Covid restrictions made it hard for that to happen, so we’re very grateful to the Sky team for picking up the mantle.

“Many of our residents are wheelchair-bound but love sitting outside to enjoy the fresh air. The work that the Sky team has done means they now have much improved space to enjoy some peace and quiet. It looks fantastic and we’re very grateful for all their hard work.”

Natasha Flett, an engineer for Sky who organised the visit, said: “Sky allows its employees two days out of the year to volunteer to make their community a better place, and as I live close to the home it was the first place I thought about.

“I spent a while working with elderly people and still have friends who work in care, so I know that the residents and care professionals have had a rough time in the last few years. We wanted to use a volunteer day to make sure the garden area is spic and span now the weather is improving.

“Sky does lots of work to support elderly people, like our befriending service, where anyone can call up and just talk with someone about anything they like. All the engineers have little welfare packs with tea and coffee, so that if we sense someone is a bit lonely or isolated, we can have a brew and chat with them too.”

Whitby House care centre is a purpose-built facility, operated by Larchwood Care, and offers several personalised care packages from well-trained and qualified carers. It is rated as Good by the Care Quality Commission.

ENDS

NEWS RELEASE: ISSUED ON BEHALF OF LARCHWOOD CARE

CONTACT: Joss Havakin on 01325 363436

Notes to editors:

Larchwood Care has an extensive range of care homes, with an excellent reputation, in England, Scotland and South Wales.

All of the facilities are set up to support a comfortable lifestyle while making the most of a skilled care team with an approach that is homely and charming, while also being modern and efficient.

Larchwood Care Homes is managed by Healthcare Management Solutions, one of the leading providers of care in the UK.

https://www.larchwoodcare.co.uk/