Staff From Local Brighouse Bank Volunteer Time To Makeover Rastrick Hall & Grange Care Home

The branch staff from Lloyds Bank in Brighouse, gave up their time this week to give a makeover to two communal rooms at their local care home, Rastrick Hall & Grange

As part of the bank’s support of Mental Health UK, staff had the opportunity to take a day away from the branch and do something to support the local community. Branch Manager Catherine Varley recruited the manpower of her staff to give the dementia unit in the home a facelift, by painting and decorating two quiet lounges, turning one into a market and shopping environment, with a coffee shop, and the other into a sensory and cinema room, with a big screen and projector.

“This is a great project for us to get involved in, as we can really see the positive changes and impact these rooms will have.” said Branch Manager Catherine, “We have co-opted staff from other local branches to run our branch today, and ensure our customers will not be affected. But we’re just pleased to help really.”

The four members of staff, Sam Power, Richard Gurteen, Karen Laycock and Catherine Varley, arrived at the home at 9.30am in the morning, and will stay until the end of the day, before returning to cash-up in the branch. They were also joined in their efforts by Ange Mellor, Care Manager, who came in on her day off, and Alan, part of the Orchard maintenance team.

“We are so grateful for this support.” Said Activity Coordinator Sarah Bamforth. “It doesn’t just make the home look and feel good, and give us new resources to enjoy, but it helps us create a stronger bond with our local community, and that’s really important to us. Many of the residents were popping in and out during the day, keeping an eye on the developments, they definitely seemed to enjoy all the activity.”