Video: youths close generation gap at home

The NCS Ollerton team responsible for the garden overall done at the Bishop's Court Residential Home in Boughton, they are from left, back row, Coral Shaw, Abbie Anderson, team leader Liz Spowage, James Chauntry, Ashley Parker, Ben Britton, with from left, front row, Tea Milligan, Zoe-Zara Garner and Emma-Jayne Burton.

The work was part of a National Citizen Service project to give 16-17 year-olds the skills they need to enter the working world.

Members provided materials used during the landscape makeover of Bishops Court, Boughton, through fundraising activities in and around the area.

Sixteen year-old Emma Burton, a group member from Walesby, said she and the other members were proud of what they had achieved.

She added: “It was hard at times but we all enjoyed it and got through it.

“The residents could not have been more appreciative - they just loved having new people to talk to walking in and out.

“Our idea was not just to do up the gardens but close the gap between generations and build trust back up.”

Ginny Bullock, manager at Bishops Court, said the project had been a positive experience for both young and old.

“They were a wonderful bunch of younger people and talked the residents to find out what they wanted,” said Ginny.

“We now have more residents than normal sitting out in the gardens.

“They also learned a little about technology by looking at before and after pictures on the group’s mobile phones, which was particularly positive.”

Ginny said the group would be returning to assist with the garden’s general upkeep each month and to chat with the residents.

Besides the group’s charity work, materials used during the makeover, such as woodpaint, varnish, and cut-price flowers, were also provided by JTF and B&Q, Mansfield.