Plant a Pot event at Oakendale

Sheltered Housing Scheme gardening event ‘Plant a Pot event celebrating the Queens Diamond Jubilee’ Oakendale 29 May 2012

The Queen celebrated 60 years as Monarch in 2012.

And Oakendale celebrated too!

Contents Page 3 Seniors United working group Page 3 Letters to tenants & Independent Living Managers Page 4 Invite sent to tenants Page 4 Who was in attendance on the day?

Page 5 Meeting to discuss the event Page 5 Risk assessments Page 5 The event itself Page 6 Post event responses from the questionnaire Page 6 Was it worth it and will we be doing another one?

Pages 6- 7 Comments made by residents after the event.

Page 7 Thank you Pages 8-12 The event in pictures Page 13 How to contact us

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‘Seniors United’ working group Seniors United is a group of sheltered scheme residents who meet at Marmion House or at various schemes to discuss housing issues relevant to sheltered accommodation and the community they live in.

The group suggested that a gardening event involving the schemes was held.

However, this would have been too big an event and too costly for us to manage. After further discussions with the group it was suggested that the event became a ‘Plant a Pot’ as sheltered housing tenants have varying degrees of mobility difficulties. The pots could be planted inside or outside of the schemes and within easy reach of those people taking part to give everyone the chance to join in.

It was agreed that a letter should be sent to all sheltered housing residents to inform and encourage residents of the forthcoming event and to tie it into the Queens Diamond Jubilee celebrations.

Letter to tenants & Independent Living Managers Previously a questionnaire was sent to all sheltered scheme tenants to see if they would like to take part in an event at their scheme. When all the responses were collected, the three schemes who said they would like an event were put forward to the next stage of planning.

Tenants were told that anyone could become involved in a way that suits them from planting a pot or trough or just enjoying the company of other people. They were not required to make a commitment to help and could change their mind later if their circumstances changed.

Following on from the success of this the ‘Seniors United Group’ suggested that this year we looked at completing two more ‘Plant a Pot events’ at the sheltered schemes. It was agreed that Oakendale and Thomas Hardy Court would be approached to have an event at their schemes.

After the meeting the tenant involvement assistant contacted the Independent Living Managers and requested that she attended a coffee morning/ afternoon to discuss with tenants if they would like an event.

Oakendale were very keen to have an event at their sheltered scheme and discussed the following ideas with Diane (tenant involvement assistant); Requested a new shed as theirs is very old and falling down.

The residents in the scheme had recently purchased a large amount of plants in red, white and blue to celebrate the Queens Diamond Jubilee.

They requested that instead of plants that we provided fruit and vegetables so they could grow them and eat them as they have an excellent cook at the scheme.

Concerns were raised on how some residents would join in and lift the pots. Diane explained that there would be plenty of assistance on the day with the tenant involvement and the caretaking teams.

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Invitation sent to tenants

Who was in attendance on the day?

Leanne Allwood Tenant participation manager Diane Hughes Tenant participation assistant Helen Rich Tenant participation- administration support Robert Dyer Caretaker Anthony Derrington Caretaker Alan Marshall Caretaker Stuart Jackson Caretaker Trevor Wylie Caretaking Team Leader (not there on the day but gave us a lot of help before the event) Avalon Cassie Independent Living Manager Councillor Michael Greatorex Portfolio holder for housing 2 Mears staff who erected the shed on the morning of the event.

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Meeting to discuss the event A meeting was held between the tenant participation team and the caretaking team to consider what could be achieved on the day. It was decided: Tenants would be encouraged to plant a pot or trough.

Pots purchased by the Tenant Involvement Team Fruit and vegetables, compost and red, white and blue paraphernalia would be provided by the tenant participation team.

Bunting was donated by the Tenant Involvement Team Support would be offered to less mobile tenants on the day.

No large work would be carried out at this small event, for example, hedges or trees.

Risk assessments A risk assessment and health and safety concerns were discussed between the Estates Manager and the Tenant Involvement Team The event The event was held at Oakendale on Tuesday 29 May 2012. The event itself was very well attended with more than 20 tenants taking part on the day.

Councillor Michael Greatorex, (Portfolio holder for housing) assisted on the day.

Everyone involved was dressed in red, white and blue to celebrate the Queens Diamond Jubilee celebrations.

The Tenant Involvement Team agreed with Mears (repairs contractor) that they would buy Oakendale a new shed between them. Prior to the event Mears confirmed that they were happy to purchase the shed on their own and arranged for two of their team to erect it on the morning of the event. For this reason a prize draw did not take place as it usually would. The tenants were happy with this decision and very grateful for their new shed.

Everyone was encouraged to plant a pot or trough with vegetables and fruit.

Many residents joined in and there was a lot of laughter on the day. The Independent Living Manager, Avalon Cassie encouraged participation and assisted on the day.

Councillor Greatorex presented a prize to Margaret Lovegrove for the best dressed resident on the day.

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Post event responses from questionnaire 100% of respondents stated that they are very satisfied with the completed sheltered housing scheme gardening event that they were involved in.

100% of respondents stated that they are very satisfied with how they were kept informed about the project.

100% of respondents stated that they are very satisfied that their views were taken into account during the planning of the project.

Tenants were asked what they felt the key benefits of the project are. The following responses were noted;• 100% of respondents stated that it ‘Encouraged a group of residents to work together on a project’.

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100% of respondents stated that it ‘Promoted a positive image of Sheltered Schemes in Tamworth’.

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100% of respondents stated that it ‘Encouraged local community action amongst tenants and residents’.

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100% of respondents stated ‘Everyone had a chance to participate in a way that suited them’.

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100% of respondents stated that it ‘improved the local environment’

Was it worth it and will we be doing another one?

The event was very successful for all concerned and will be considered for other sheltered schemes in the borough.

Comments made after the event “I don't normally go out in the garden but I joined in and thoroughly enjoyed myself and getting my hands dirty”. Elaine Deer “It has been a great day and everyone has joined in. It is lovely to see people out enjoying the garden”. Margaret Lovegrove “Thank you for the shed off Mears. Today has bee a great success.” John Holloway “It has been lovely to see everyone getting involved”. Bryony Webb “I have really enjoyed the event today. There has been a lot of laughter and we all helped with the pots”. John Griffin “It was great to see so many residents in the garden and enjoying themselves”. George Hardy

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“This idea came from the Seniors United group that I attend and it was lovely to see what a success it has been”. Irene Bradley “I have joined in and really enjoyed myself”. Margaret Meyer

“A lot of residents who don't normally get involved in events joined in and there was a lot of interaction between residents. It was great to see so much laughter and communication between residents who really got 'stuck in' planting the many pots. They were able to get involved and staff was on hand to assist where needed and to make sure everyone enjoyed themselves. Afterwards the Tenant Involvement Team provided a variety of foods and refreshments for everyone”. Avalon Cassie (Independent Living Manager)

Avalon Cassie

Thank you The tenant participation team would like to say a special thank you to all involved in making the event a success: To all the wonderful tenants and their families who were involved in making the event successful and a real pleasure to work alongside.

Avalon Cassie, Independent Living Manager at Oakendale, was an excellent support both before the event, encouraging participation, and on the day.

Councillor Michael Greatorex The caretaking team: Stuart, Alan, Bob, Tony and their Estates Manager, Trevor for all their hard work and dedication to the event.

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The event in pictures

“It was an interesting and enjoyable afternoon”

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Friendly and fun atmosphere”

“Friendly & fun atmosphere”

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“Good community spirit”

“Good team building”

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“An opportunity to meet and socialise with your neighbours”

“Good way of promoting healthy eating in sheltered schemes” “A smashing day”

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“The tenants at Oakendale would like to take this opportunity to thank Diane for all her support in this area and organising a shed for us”. Avalon Cassie (ILM)

John Holloway with the Caretaking team and the shed kindly donated off Mears (repairs contractor for the council) “The hours spent planting pots made us very happy”

Councillor Michael Greatorex presenting a prize for the best dressed resident in red, white and blue to Mrs Margaret Lovegrove.

Margaret was chosen by the other residents for her commitment to Oakendale’s garden and how she is always offering assistance to other less mobile residents. Margaret, John Holloway and George Hardy look after the garden at the scheme and keep everything to a high standard with hard work and dedication throughout the year.

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If you would like a copy of this document then please contact the tenant participation team on:

Telephone: 01827 709448 Freephone: 0800 183 0454 Tenant Participation Team Tamworth Borough Council Marmion House Lichfield Street Tamworth Staffordshire B79 7BZ Alternatively visit our website

http://www.tamworth.gov.uk/housing/tenant_participation.aspx

Drawn by 10-year-old Katherine Dewar, from Chester.

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