Volunteers from our Portsmouth office spent a day at the Liss-based FitzRoy charity site transforming its green space to develop a memorial garden.
FitzRoy’s Whitegates View site supports people with both learning and physical disabilities and complex needs to do things that make a real difference to their everyday lives. Many of the people FitzRoy supports also suffer from physical health conditions that often go hand-in-hand with their diagnosis, and the organisation ensures its garden provides an engaging outside space to encourage its adults to enjoy the great outdoors.
To support FitzRoy’s ambition, 14 colleagues from our Digital Delivery team carried out a range of tasks on the site as part of our Community Action Programme (CAP). The CAP scheme gives our 4,000 people a day of company time each year to volunteer and help an organisation or charity of their choice.
While their day jobs involve enhancing SGN’s IT systems, the volunteers threw themselves into the large garden project by stripping the existing overgrown area down, cutting grass, weeding and constructing a new memorial patio.
Our Digital Delivery team have formed a strong bond with FitzRoy after carrying out a previous CAP day at the same site. Our Cyber OT Programme Manager Hayley Randell said: “This charity is close to our Walton Park site, but even closer to our hearts. It didn’t take much convincing of my team to decide how they wanted to volunteer their services when we heard of FitzRoy’s plan to create a memorial garden for its residents.
“We’re all so pleased we’ve been able to kick-off this wonderful project, and when finished, it will be a great addition that all its adults will love.”
The organisation was founded over 60 years ago by Elizabeth FitzRoy and she was determined people with learning disabilities should be living in safe and nurturing homes. Demand for these homes and services is higher than ever, and FitzRoy now support over 800 people with learning disabilities, autism and other physical and mental health needs in more than 70 homes and services across England.
FitzRoy’s Mandy Lashbrook said: “The memorial garden was developed in memory of two people we supported who sadly passed away during this last year. This space will give the people we support and staff a quiet space to relax and reflect.
“We’re so grateful to the SGN team who were fantastic on the day. All the team are so friendly and helpful. Without their support, we would still be developing the memorial garden whereas it’s now complete except for a few decorations.”
