Youth Connexions volunteers spruce up Watford General Hospital site (From Watford Observer)
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Youth Connexions volunteers spruce up Watford General Hospital site
8:40am Sunday 19th August 2012 in News
The group of 16 year-olds spent 30 hours cleaning, litter picking, sanding tables and digging the garden area outside the League of Friends Tea Bar at the entrance to the Watford General Hospital site.
Young volunteers from a local community initiative have given up their school holiday time to revamp one of the busiest spots on the Watford General Hospital site.
Youth Connexions, an initiative that forms part of Hertfordshire County Council ’s Services for Young People, aims to provide information, advice, guidance and personal development opportunities for 13-19 year olds.
It is currently running the Summer of a Lifetime scheme, providing opportunities to undertake residential programmes that give something back to the community.
The group of Watford-based 16 year olds spent more than 30 hours each at Watford General last week; cleaning, litter picking, sanding tables and digging the garden area outside the League of Friends Tea Bar at the entrance to the hospital site.
Benches were painted, new low-maintenance plants and shrubs were planted, and fencing was installed to protect the communal area which is visited by hundreds of people each week.
The group also made and sold cakes to raise money for the Starfish Ward’s Light the Lighthouse campaign.
A charitable appeal which aims to raise £10,000 in order to enhance the specialised care and treatment already delivered in the Starfish Ward for acute children’s services, it will allow medical equipment that would further support the service to be purchased.
Following the week-long effort, one of the young volunteers said: "I came on Summer of a Lifetime to give something back to the community and increase my confidence". Another said: "Being on Summer of a Lifetime is like four years personal growth in four weeks."
Liz Rippon, the Trust’s Director of Communications presented a gift as a token of appreciation, and thanked the "dedicated and hardworking" team for giving up their holiday to raise money.
She said: "You have really made a difference to this environment for our patients, visitors and staff. You have set an example for all of us, showing how we can work together with true community spirit."
