Flower beds installed at Hambury Court thanks to Travis Perkins Partnership

Last week employees from Travis Perkins Managed Services and Benchmarx Kitchens and Joinery volunteered their time, alongside GSA operatives, to install raised beds outside Hambury Court, one of our supported living schemes in Birmingham.

The new raised beds are in the communal garden at Hambury Court and Travis Perkins Managed Services have provided all the materials to build them alongside donating handheld garden tools, a watering can and a contribution towards seeds and plants.

Michael Rogers, our Employment and Skills Adviser, instigated this project after visiting Hambury Court, working with GSA customers there and learning that they had a shared interest in gardening. Michael then worked with colleagues in our Community Involvement and Investment Team to put in a bid for funding from the Travis Perkins Managed Services Community Legacy Fund.

Sian Every, Our Community Investment and Social Value Lead said: “It was fantastic to see our partnership with Travis Perkins come to life at Hanbury Court.

“By harnessing the power of socially responsible procurement we have been able to make a real difference to our customers by providing them with opportunities to develop skills, enjoy a new hobby and spend time with other residents.”

One of the residents who joined the volunteers installing the raised beds said: “It’s really exciting to see this happening at Hambury Court. I can’t wait to get started with growing vegetables and flowers in the beds.”

Ben Clifford, Account Manager at Travis Perkins added: “It's so rewarding to help with this project and meet some of the residents who are already planning what they want to grow in the beds. We are delighted that GSA is utilising the Community Legacy Funding to support building better communities and enriching people's lives. We look forward to supporting further projects over the coming months.”

Our Community Involvement and Investment Team, work with our supply chain partners to encourage them to make social value offers to GSA when tendering for our contracts. Hambury Court is an eight-bed supported living scheme in Kings Heath, Birmingham, that paves the way for adults with learning disabilities to live independently. Support workers are on hand every day to help residents with life skills such as money management, planning meals, cooking and also offer guidance about undertaking education and training.

The scheme also has a communal lounge, dining room and laundry facilities, giving residents opportunities for socialising. People living at Hambury Court play a key part in making decisions about their living environment and this is reflected in every aspect of service delivery.

Find out more about Hambury Court here.