It was all hands on deck, fences, garden forks and teapots as fifteen enthusiastic volunteers from Nationwide Building Society spent a rewarding day volunteering at Downs View Care Home in the quiet rural hamlet of Badbury, Wiltshire.
Nationwide’s UK headquarters is based in Swindon, barely a ten minute drive from Downs View, and good deeds aside, the pretty care home is a delightful place to spend the day amidst spectacular views of the Marlborough Downs.
“It was a real pleasure to welcome the volunteers from Nationwide for the day,” says Yvonne Bowden, home administrator at Downs View, “they really got stuck into their to-do list, everything from painting our garden fences and spring cleaning the greenhouse to mowing the lawn and tending the tomatoes. Indoors they spent time cooking, organising arts and crafts activities, and just generally getting to know our residents, enjoying a quiet chat and a cuppa.”
“It is not the first time Downs View has benefited from Nationwide’s commitment to engaging with the local community,” continues Yvonne. “They organise an annual Christmas Party at their huge staff restaurant in Swindon which involves a slap-up meal, presents and complimentary hampers – it’s a day our residents really look forward to.”
As Amar Suemel, volunteering coordinator at Nationwide, reveals, the choice of this particular Coate Water Care home was no coincidence: “We chose Downs View because a relative of one of our team was there in their final days and the family and individual received outstanding care - so we wanted to give something back. It was a very rewarding day and the team particularly enjoyed spending quality time with the elderly residents and listening to their stories.”
"The staff at Downs View provide superb professional care,” says Yvonne, “but having more people around to talk to residents – especially those who don’t receive many family visits – is definitely a positive thing. And for the volunteers, sacrificing a bit of spare time to engage with their elders in a care home, including some who are living with dementia, is a rewarding and eye-opening experience.”
“We also have youngsters studying health and social care at local colleges who come to Downs View for work experience, not to mention volunteers from our local church who give a monthly service. Any volunteer who can make a positive contribution to our residents’ lives is welcome.”
Downs View Care & Nursing Home in Badbury is just off the A346 (Swindon to Marlborough road), approximately one mile from M4, Junction 15.
To find out about volunteering opportunities at Downs View or any of Coate Water Care’s outstanding residential care homes, please phone 01793 821200 or email info@coatewatercare.co.uk