The Orchard Trust’s residential and short break home in Ruardean was visited by four members of staff from Lloyds Banking Group, on Tuesday, August 30th.

Lloyds allocate each employee one day a year to carry out volunteering within the community, and the group came to the Trust to help tidy the garden and outdoor area so that residents could make the most of the space.

Becky Evans, Claire Sidebottom, Sam Edwards and Phillipa Esson worked tremendously hard all day cleaning the patio, rubbing down and staining garden furniture and fencing and general weeding and tidying.

Manager of Hilltop Jill Malsom said “We could not have had four nicer young ladies, they worked extremely hard and hardly stopped to take a breath. They did pressure washing, painting staining and interacted with the service users really well. The patio looks refreshed.”

The Orchard Trust is a charity in the Forest of Dean that supports the involvement, independence and development of people with learning disabilities. The Trust benefits hugely from corporate volunteering and has been able to carry out projects such as a sensory garden in the Coleford residential home and work on its smallholding.

Chief Executive of the Orchard Trust, Gareth Jones said “A huge thank you to Lloyds Banking Group for providing volunteers.”