Lending a helping hand to Sue Ryder Care

Thirty employees from Perkins donned their wellies and gardening gloves in aid of their charity of the year Sue Ryder Care - Thorpe Hall Hospice. 

The volunteers from the company’s engineering department gave up two days to help to clear overgrown areas of the gardens and help with gravelling the car parks and pathways to help to keep the well-loved hospice in shape.

As well as clearing the grounds of the Peterborough hospice, the team had their paintbrushes at the ready as they decorated the Exeter and Fry wards at Stamford Hospital in preparation for the temporary occupation of the wards by staff and patients at Sue Ryder Care Thorpe Hall Hospice while essential maintenance work is undertaken on the lift and buildings at Thorpe Hall.

The decoration work helped save the hospice vital funds which can instead be spent on patient care.

The temporary move by Sue Ryder Care Thorpe Hall to Stamford Hospital has been facilitated by a grant from the Department of Health, specifically for the building improvements.

Paul Firby, lead volunteer from Perkins commented, “Everyone was extremely happy and felt they had done something very worthwhile for an excellent cause. Thorpe Hall is a very special place for a lot of people and that came out in the teamwork. It really was a great team effort.”

Sue Ryder Care area fundraising manager Natalie Riddler, said: “We cannot thank Perkins enough for the fantastic difference they have made to the grounds at Thorpe Hall. The gardens provide so much pleasure to the patients we care for.”

Commenting on the essential improvements currently being made to Thorpe Hall, and the work to ensure Stamford Hospital was fit for purpose, Natalie said: “We are incredibly grateful for the fantastic work undertaken by the volunteers from Perkins and for their ongoing support.”

Work at Thorpe Hall hospice was supported by equipment donated by Hewden Hire. 

Picture: Some of the volunteers at work at Stamford Hospital.