Maidstone care home teams up with school children and local businesses to transform garden space

A care home in Maidstone has teamed up with local businesses and neighbouring students to join a nationwide campaign for International Repair Day (Saturday 18 October).

Residents at Invicta Court, on Gidds Pond Way, have been rolling up their sleeves and getting stuck into some hands-on DIY all in the name of sharing skills with the next generation and to help a beloved community member.

As part of Care UK’s ‘Fixer Uppers’ programme, residents teamed up with a local school to revive traditional repair skills, such as fixing furniture, upcycling, and tackling small maintenance jobs. The initiative, launched in the run-up to International Repair Day, aims to celebrate the invaluable knowledge older generations can pass on while promoting sustainability.

Residents and colleagues from Invicta Court have transformed a treasured community member’s garden into a beautiful, uplifting outdoor space. Once a place of peace and comfort for local resident, Linda Ross, the garden had become unkempt due to her ongoing health challenges, which now prevent her from tending to it herself.

Keen to support Linda’s garden transformation, the team reached out to local businesses, including Boxley Timber, L J Services, and Notcutts Garden Centre, who were incredibly generous with their time and donations of fencing materials, decorative stone, plants – and even a Christmas tree in time for December, to help with the project. 

With their supplies ready, the team partnered with students from Leigh Academy Bearsted, to renovate Linda’s courtyard garden. Together, they all contributed by upcycling old pallets into beautiful planters, reviving old pots, repairing her treasured bird feeder and creating an original piece of mosaic artwork using recycled tiles.

Commenting on the transformation, Linda said: “Having the garden transformed is going to make such a huge difference to my life as I now have somewhere beautiful to sit to enjoy the sunshine –  I have a lovely view from my kitchen window. 

“Seeing the transformation for the first time brought me to tears and it was overwhelming to hear how the team at Invicta Court and the wider community came together to make this happen. With the economy as it is, recycling becomes even more important, and it was so satisfying to see old materials being given a new lease of life”.

Sara Barbosa, Home Manager at Invicta Court, said: “Residents have honed their DIY skills over a lifetime, and the Fixer Uppers’ project has been a fantastic way for them to connect with the community and share practical knowledge for a meaningful cause.

“It was wonderful to see everyone fully engaged and coming together to help an important member of the community”.

“We’d like to thank Leigh Academy Bearsted, Boxley Timber, LJ Services and Notcutts Garden Centre for getting involved with the garden makeover. It was a truly heart-warming project, and we look forward to continuing our efforts to give back to the community”.

Invicta Court offers permanent residential, dementia and nursing care, as well as short-term respite care, in luxurious surroundings, ensuring residents can lead active and fulfilling lives. The home boasts its very own café, hair and beauty salon, pub and cinema room, and the highly trained, professional team delivers an excellent standard of person-centred care.