Based in Denton, Manchester, this Scout hut is run by residents of the local community.

The Scout leaders are extremely passionate about promoting an inviting, safe, adventurous and fun environment for all 6-16 year olds, satisfying their thirst for adventure and connecting them with a healthy and structured substitute to the more common pastimes of today’s youth.

They were looking for the team to make a real visual difference to the hut, which included tidying, decorating and getting creative both inside and outside the building.

It was an excellent challenge and an opportunity for the team to work together and make a real difference for young people who use the centre.

The team has recently received an email from Dave Williams, one of the scout leaders, to thank them and praise the effort they put in on the day.

Dave paid tribute in particular to Lisa Smith, Cath Prince and Claire Woolley who dedicated the whole of the day to painting the boys toilets and will now be known collectively as “Atomic Kittenish!” Supreeta Sampath was also picked out as excelling due to her meticulous approach whilst stencilling some designs.

All in all, a very enjoyable and productive experience for all involved.

The Development Team from within Clinical Services, based in Anchorage Quays, took part in a community challenge on the 29th May.

We are a relatively new team and so the challenge held two purposes, to build and strengthen relationships within the team, and help within the local community.

There were 9 team members involved in the day and we chose to help the charity ‘G Force’ by renovating an area outside their internet café on the Broomwood estate in Timperley.

It was an excellent day; in which we were able to remove all the weeds, old bushes and waste from a ‘derelict’ piece of land, and turn the land over in readiness for planting. This was no easy task as the sun shone down and the land had seen no attention for years.

G Force had managed to obtain bedding plants from a local market gardener, and with help from the local children we planted the whole area by the close of the day. The side of the café was also repainted in preparation of their plan to develop a tiled mural.

We found it to be a very positive experience, everyone worked hard and it was good to see the ‘before and after’ of the project.

G Force were great, their CEO Paul , Tina his wife, and several volunteers helped out with the work , kept us fed and provided us with drinks all day (non alcoholic of course !).

The photo’s give you a flavour of what took place. I would certainly recommend taking part in a Community challenge.

Creating a sensory garden was something new for Richard Aris and his team from Loyalty in Staines who created a sensory garden at a children’s respite centre in Hayes middlesex. Despite limited knowledge of gardening the centre were delighted with their fragrent shrubs and flowers, interesting water features and meandering pathways.