A children’s hospice in Balloch has seen their garden receive a summer makeover thanks to a team of our engineers.
Robin House offers full family support service for babies, children and young people with life-shortening conditions. This includes palliative care, family respite and support through their hospices, homecare services and hospital presence.
When Engineering Manager Chris Moyes, a former Robin House volunteer and fundraiser, learned their gardens were in need of a major tidy up, he rallied his colleagues for a day of volunteering as part of our Community Action Programme. Each of our 4,000 people are given a day of company time each year as part of the scheme to volunteer and help an organisation or charity of their choice.
Under the watchful eye of Maggie, the hospice’s only full-time gardener, the team set to work clearing overgrowth around a stream in the grounds, making the water shine again in the summer sun and allowing the banks to be enjoyed for anyone staying at the hospice.
Shrubbery was also cleared along the grounds’ pathways while some wooden surrounds were built around the trees. After a full and tiring day of work, the staff of Robin House were delighted with the team’s efforts and the volunteers were charmed by the hospice and services they offer.
Lara MacDonald, Senior Corporate Partnerships Executive at Children’s Hospices Across Scotland, said: “We were delighted when we heard Chris and his colleagues were keen to return to Robin House for a day of volunteering. The whole team were really impressed with how they got stuck in and were able to achieve so much. We rely on the generosity of volunteers and fundraisers all year round and we’re really grateful to SGN for allowing their people to take time out from their day jobs and give back to the community.”
Chris Moyes, Engineering Manager, said: “Robin House is a very a special place and I’m so pleased the rest of the team wanted to volunteer here. We’re really pleased with the amount we got done in just one day and hope the children and their supporters will be able to make use of the grounds. We plan to continue supporting them going forward and we’re already looking forward to supporting in their gardens again next year.”
