AFTER SCHOOL CLUB GARDEN GETS THE GROUND FORCE TREATMENT
An ENABLE Scotland after school club for children who have learning disabilities in West Dumbartonshire underwent a garden make over this week courtesy of Dobbies Garden World Braehead and a group of green fingered volunteers from Scotland’s largest independent business technology company, Amor Group.
PALS (Play After Learning) is based in Kilpatrick and is run by the charity ENABLE Scotland to provide after school care as well as youth clubs for children who have profound and complex needs.
Amor Group provided funding to buy the materials required for the makeover while Dobbies Garden World Braehead donated many items including fruit trees and sensory plants. 10 volunteers from Amor Group’s Headquarters in Glasgow undertook two days of hard work revamping the garden.
David Cameron from ENABLE Scotland said: “PALS provides play, leisure and fun activities for the children who attend, many of whom are given one to one support. The small outdoor garden area is an important part of that as it gives the children somewhere to relax and participate in activities such as ball games, cycling or wheel chair activities.
Volunteers from Amor Group have completely revamped the garden. They have planted flowers to provide sensory stimulation; created interesting artwork on the once bare white walls; repaired the water feature and painted fences. I can’t thank them enough for their hard work along with Dobbies at Braehead for their kind donations. The children are looking forward to enjoying the garden over the coming summer months”.
John Innes, Amor Group’s Chief Executive Officer, said: “We are delighted to be able to offer our support to ENABLE Scotland. Our partnership with Enable is about much more than just donating money; we have actively participated in volunteering activities as well as fundraising through running events and even abseils.
We encourage all our staff to take an active role in volunteering and fundraising with ENABLE Scotland. I am delighted that we can support PALS and help improve local schemes in the communities in which we operate.”
Amor Group named ENABLE Scotland as their nominated charity in May 2010. Since then the organisation has raised over £2000 through fundraising activities including a staff abseil from The Titan Crane and Montrose Viaduct Bridge. They have also undertaken a similar environmental challenge at Woodhall at the Inch, Edinburgh, which is also part of ENABLE Scotland. Amor Group volunteers rolled up their sleeves and enjoyed tree planting in the local woodland as well as assisting in the nursery preparing for summer.