The sessions consisted of decorating plant pots and planting herbs, alongside chats and refreshments. A selection of seasonal herbs were chosen by the team for their multi-purpose uses, such as cooking, making teas or simply smelling and touching for relaxation.
Volunteering activities such as these are a central part of the social value work undertaken across Compass through its Our Social Promise, with a commitment to give back to local communities and positively impact one million lives by 2030.
Laura Tighe, managing director at White Oaks, said: “We really understand that it’s the small things that make a big difference and we’re dedicated to helping our clients and their residents to make time to connect, supporting with engaging activities for everyone.
“While we always like to give back, the team especially loves working directly with the residents. It’s a great opportunity to spend quality time with the people who they impact the most and this activity has been really rewarding.”
The White Oaks team is dedicated to delivering consistent high-quality food and services, with dedicated expertise. They are experienced in creating food and service offers that are developed to meet the specific meal requirements of residents and tenants, offering quality, choice and flexibility.
Jess Payne, director of social value for Compass One, added: “We want to be a force for good and giving back to the communities where we work is so important. This was a tailored activity for our senior living business, creating meaningful moments of connection, joy and purpose for residents.
“It was fantastic to see the engagement between residents and volunteers - activities like this help to reduce social isolation, boost wellbeing and give residents a sense of ownership. The initiative has been such a success, we hope to go even bigger with it in the spring – watch this space.”