Makeshift beach built at care home with the help of Abbeyfield volunteers

Several members of staff from Abbeyfield Living Society's marketing, fundraising and volunteering team chose to use one of their volunteering days to help at Pratt House in Amersham, who were transforming their garden into a makeshift beach.

The team of six spent the day shovelling five tonnes of sand into wheelbarrows and wheeling it to the garden, where the Pratt House staff team, ably led by maintenance manager Michael Finch, constructed the beach complete with bunting, beach huts and seaside head-through-the-hole boards.

Pratt House Volunteers

Alice Dunning, the Care Home Manager, said, “Our residents are always saying how they wish they could visit the seaside again.

“With the logistical challenges of arranging a trip to the coast, we thought we would instead bring the beach to them and let them get as close to the holiday experience as possible in our garden.

“Hopefully we can also make good use of the nice weather we have been promised over the next few days and maximise the use of the beach for friends and family to enjoy as well. 

"The transformation is incredible, and I am very grateful to the volunteers for giving up their time to help set it up.”
Pratt House Volunteers

All Abbeyfield staff are permitted to undertake up to two days of volunteering during their normal paid hours per year through our Employee Supported Volunteering Scheme (ESVS).

If you would like to find out more about the ESVS, please contact Volunteering Officer, Paul Colwill, at p.colwill@abbeyfield.com.

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