A group of garden-loving Orbit customers in Coventry have been named ‘Community Champions’.
A group of garden-loving Orbit customers in Coventry have been named ‘Community Champions’.
Members of the gardening club at Shortwood Court in Wigston Road have been busy planting and pruning to make the grounds look blooming marvellous - and now their hard work has paid off after being presented with an Orbit Community Champion award.
Orbit launched the award scheme earlier this year to champion its customers who go above and beyond to look after the communities they live in. This could be customers who look out for vulnerable neighbours, who are actively involved in and make best use of communal gardens or those who regularly help others. Those who are nominated and receive a Community Champion award are given a certificate and gift vouchers.
Len Jones from Orbit’s Estate Team made the Shortwood Court nomination because the gardening club was going the extra mile to make communal outdoor areas look as nice as possible for all the customers and visitors to enjoy.
Len has supported the gardening club by putting up a greenhouse to enable them to grow plants from seed and building bespoke raised planters which will allow them to carry out ‘square foot gardening’ to grow their own vegetables.
Pippa Reeve, Placemaking and Partnership Manager at Orbit, explained: “The idea of the Community Champions award is to recognise and show our appreciation for those customers who are having a positive impact on their local community. The gardening cub has benefited everyone at Shortwood Court and has also created a social activity for customers to take part in if they wish. It just shows how one small idea can develop into something bigger.”
Len Jones, Estates Operative who made the nomination added: “The gardening club is such a great idea and one which I felt deserved recognition. Anyone at Shortwood Court can take part, it gives the customers a hobby which they can do as little or much as they like with and the end result is that the whole area looks really colourful and cared for, which benefits everyone.”
Shortwood Court is an independent living scheme in Walsgrave for those aged 55 and over.
Nominating someone for an Orbit Community Champion award is easy – simply log on to https://betterdays.orbit.org.uk/ and follow the ‘Community Champions’ link. Applications can be submitted at any time by Orbit staff, contractor, community partners or Orbit customer.