Volunteers create a grotto full of festive magic
A CHRISTMAS grotto was created last month at a home for adults with learning disabilities in Farnham, with each resident having a special gift to unwrap.
Bells Piece is home to 15 adults with learning disabilities, all of whom have had minimal interaction with people other than their support workers and families for 18 months due to the pandemic.
However, thanks to volunteers from Enterprise Rent-A-Car in Aldershot, the grotto was adorned with twinkling lights, baubles and tinsel, and was available for residents and their support workers to visit to collect their special gifts.
Patricia Moody, community volunteering co-ordinator at the home, said: “The volunteer team from Enterprise Rent-a-Car and a team from Zurich Insurance in Farnborough, who supplied and decorated the gardens with Christmas lights, have been very generous and brilliant to work with.
“Everyone involved has worked extremely hard and support workers have enjoyed being able to interact with those volunteers who have been on-site in recent weeks for the first time since Covid-19 impacted on their lives.”
The idea for the grotto initially came from volunteers who took part in a gardening volunteer day at Bells Piece last summer.
While an event for residents at the home had to be cancelled due to Covid-19, it did not stop them enjoying the festive decorations and opening their gifts.
Additional contributions to the evening were acknowledged from Squire’s Garden Centre in Badshot
Lea, Haskins Garden Centre and Shirley Donald from the business support team at Enterprise Rent-ACar who donated funds towards the evening by making and selling Christmas cakes.
Bells Piece is looking for more volunteers to get involved and help support the adults living there.
Email Ms Moody at patricia. moody@leonardcheshire.org, for more information.