Written by Connie Field
A team of volunteers from global real estate company CBRE has transformed the outdoor space at one of Affinity Trust's supported living services in Yorkshire, creating a vibrant new sensory garden that is already making a difference to the people who call it home.
Over two volunteer days, the CBRE team dedicated their time, energy and skills to overhaul the garden, turning it into a welcoming and accessible outdoor space where people with learning disabilities and autistic people can relax, socialise and enjoy the benefits of nature.
The project is already having a positive impact. With the summer months providing more opportunities to spend time outdoors, the new sensory garden is supporting day-to-day wellbeing by offering a calm, stimulating and enjoyable environment tailored to the needs of the people we support.
This volunteer project highlights the power of partnership between businesses and the social care sector. By working together, organisations can create meaningful improvements that directly enhance the lives of people with learning disabilities and autistic people living in supported living services.
A spokesperson for Affinity Trust said:
"We're incredibly grateful to everyone from CBRE who gave their time to create such a wonderful space. The transformation has been remarkable, and the people we support are already enjoying everything the new garden has to offer. It's a fantastic example of how volunteering can have a lasting impact on people's wellbeing and quality of life."
Larry Royel, Area Operations Supervisor for CBRE said:
“It was a privilege for me and my team to support this project and help create a space that will make a real difference to people's everyday lives. We're proud to have partnered with Affinity Trust to create a sensory garden that people with learning disabilities can enjoy for years to come. We hope this inspires more businesses to get involved in supporting local charities and community organisations."
The project demonstrates how corporate volunteering can make a real difference within social care, helping charities and care providers create environments where people can thrive while building stronger connections between local communities and supported living services.
Affinity Trust hopes that volunteering successes like this will encourage more organisations and people to explore volunteering opportunities. Anyone interested can contact us to find out more:
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