Potter House and The Hub Cultivate Community Partnership Through Gardening Project

Potter House care home in Yeovil, operated by Crystal Care Collection, has formed a new partnership with local charity The Hub, bringing together residents and trainees through a shared passion for gardening.

As part of Potter House’s entry into the Crystal in Bloom gardening competition, trainees from The Hub – a charity that provides day services for young adults with learning disabilities and autism – are visiting the care home weekly to support a range of gardening projects.

Working alongside residents and team members, the trainees are helping to develop the home’s gardens, including fruit trees and a herb garden that will provide fresh produce for the kitchen.

Ken Comber, CEO of The Hub, said: “The Hub’s trainees love getting out and helping the local community. We are very appreciative of Potter House for inviting our trainees to be involved in their exciting gardening project. The trainees are enjoying the gardening and love being able to see the results of their hard work. We are looking forward to a long-term partnership with Potter House.”

Meg Cleal, General Manager at Potter House, added: “It’s lovely to see how willing the trainees are to come in and support something within their local community. They’ve settled into a completely different environment so comfortably, and it’s wonderful to watch their confidence grow each week. This such a positive opportunity for everyone involved. We absolutely love their enthusiasm.”

Residents have welcomed the extra help and are excited to see the gardens flourish in the months ahead. 92-year-old Jean Glover, a resident at Potter House, said: “It is lovely and very helpful that we have people to come and help us with our gardens. The fruit trees will be lovely and the herb garden when we can use our own fresh produce in the kitchen for mealtimes.”