The staff and residents at Rider House Nursing Home in Burton on Trent would like to say a huge thank you to the young people and team leaders from our local National Citizen Service (NCS) programme, facilitated by the Burton Albion Community Trust, for your hard work, humour and passion during the week you spent at our home. We have loved getting to know you all, and everyone agrees that you’ve done some amazing work in the garden! That week showed us what community spirit is all about, and we’d like to wish you all every success in your future endeavours.
What is the National Citizen Service?
The National Citizen Service (NCS) is a government programme that empowers teenagers aged 15-17 years to be the best they can be, and discover just what they can do via a series of outdoor activities, workshops and community projects. They’re challenged by sports and team building activities, inspired to learn vital life skills and tasked with helping their local community, while being blessed with new friendships and amazing experiences along the way. The team that visited us this July had already spent a week at an outdoor pursuit centre, and had used time during a residential trip to chat work, money and life after school. Their week with us will be followed by a graduation, and the realisation that they’ve done something pretty amazing. Time spent with an NCS programme can support UCAS applications, boost a CV and lead to further incredible opportunities after school.
Our local NCS group has been joined in partnership by the Burton Albion Community Trust, which has made all of this possible.
The NCS at Rider House
The team from the NCS worked wonders in our garden towards the end of July, helping the gardeners to tidy overgrown areas and planting new blooms that will be perfect for pollinators. Our flower beds are richer in colour than before, and we’ve a new feature area and fountain where we had a dull corner before. We are particularly proud of that corner now! The young people have also spent time with residents, engaging them with games and conversations. There are very few residents that won’t have felt their presence at one time or another this week, whether they’ve admired our garden or spoken directly to the group. Programmes such as this reinforce the importance of community spirit, and the joy to be found when the generations work together to create something really special. We’re so excited to have been chosen for this final week of the group’s experience – your efforts will continue to brighten our residents’ days every time they step outside. Many have already commented how they’ll be even more inclined to use the garden now, in fact!
Thank you for a productive, and very enjoyable week!
You can find out more about the nationwide NCS programme here. Read all about the Burton Albion Community Trust here.
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