Tesco Scheme Funds Rehab Gardens for Veterans

Charity, Care for Veterans, has received a grant of £4,000 via the Tesco ‘Bags of Help’ scheme to provide an attractive and stimulating outdoor environment for disabled veterans.

Tesco teamed up with Groundwork to launch its community funding scheme, which sees grants raised from carrier bag sales in Tesco stores awarded to local community projects.

For disabled veterans at Care for Veterans, the facility is their home whilst they are living there. It is important that the charity provides an attractive, safe and interactive environment for them, both inside and outside the building.

The funding from Tesco and Groundwork has been put towards re-establishing the facility’s rehabilitation garden; an area that is wheelchair accessible and disability friendly, where veterans can now grow fresh fruit and vegetables. The produce is then used in the residents’ cooking groups, where they learn to make or remake various dishes.

Occupational Therapy Assistant at Care for Veterans, Craig Burley, explains: “The veterans also grow their own flowers which can be used in a sensory area, where sight and smell improves emotional well-being. Their involvement in the garden project helps with their rehabilitation by encouraging them to be active in the outdoor environment, which promotes better health, quality of life and morale.”

At the recent Harvest Festival service, held by Care for Veterans’ Chaplain, Reverend Beverley Miles, veterans and the Occupational Therapy team presented some of the produce they’d grown, along with jars of jam and jelly, and an apple pie, all made from their own fruits.

Christine Gillott, Senior Fundraiser at Care for Veterans, said: “We are extremely grateful to Tesco and Groundwork for their support. Here, we focus on a multi-disciplinary approach in caring for our veterans, so that they have the best chance at rehabilitation. It is extremely important that they have access to a range of activities which will help them learn new skills, re-learn old ones, and improve their mobility, decision-making and social skills. This grant will help us continue to provide our award-winning care to our veterans.”