Young members from First Newcastle Cub Scouts have been hard at work putting the finishing touches to their special project creating and delivering window boxes to patients and carers across the South Eastern Trust.
The Cubs dedicated their time and creativity, as they teamed up with The Conservation Volunteers NI (TCV NI) to build, design and fill the boxes with seasonal vibrant flowers.
The project was warmly welcomed by Trust staff who praised the Cubs for their excellent DIY skills, kindness and enthusiasm.
South Eastern Trust, Senior Social Work Practitioner, Pauline Kelly explained how the Newcastle Cubs had identified how they wished to take part in a community impact project to help support local people who could benefit from a ‘sunshine box’. “Each window box was handcrafted by the Cubs using their DIY skills and then decorated before being filled up with an array of colourful flowers.
“This partnership between the Cubs, Conservation Volunteers and the Multi-Disciplinary Team Social Work Service with the Donard, Causeway, Clough and Dundrum GP Surgeries was developed during late Spring. The initiative was supported by the Public Health Agency, and enabled the partnership to make an impact on spreading cheer among the local patients.”
“This kindness project was a way to reach out to local patients in the area and the Cubs spent several weeks honing their DIY skills with support from the Conservation Volunteers NI.”
TCV NI’s, Dianne Keys described the Cubs work as, “remarkable.” “It is fantastic to support this project which will benefit the community.”
South Eastern Trust, MDT Social Worker, Claire Brockbank shared how well received the window boxes were by patients. “One in particular got quite emotional as when they were gifted a box, they described how they had been experiencing a difficult time.”
Pauline added how patients from the Clough and Dundrum areas commented how the boxes, “Brightened their day and when they look at their doorstep and see the box it reminds them that someone cares.”