Students Are Blooming Helpful

Childcare students showed their caring side this week as they swapped studies at West Nottinghamshire College for volunteering at a care home.

Residents at Churchfield Care Home in Rainworth were treated to a garden make-over by the group of learners who gave up their morning to bring a touch of summer to the home which cares for dementia patients.

The learners, who are studying the Level 1 Diploma in Caring for Children, were supported by members of the Students’ Union to plant bedding plants, paint garden furniture and decorate the courtyard with gnomes, wind chimes and painted pots as part of a volunteering effort.

The plants and accessories were purchased with funds raised through a recent cake sale that the students organised. Student Kerrie Jayde Norman was delighted with the results in the revamped garden.

Kerrie Jayde said: “I’m so proud of what we achieved in just one morning and feel really proud of the fresh look garden. We went shopping with our cash raised from the cake sale and got quite a bit for our money.”

The home’s recreation and leisure co-ordinator Jacqueline Renshaw said: “We really appreciate the kindness and help from the students and it’s been a pleasure to have them at the home and the residents will enjoy the garden – it looks really stunning.”

“The students also engaged with residents with singing and dancing and playing games and we gave the students a bit of information about dementia patients so they understood more about the condition.”