In a bid to shine a light on community service, UK Electrical, a local electrical installations company renowned for their community dedication, has brought the balmy tranquillity of the Mediterranean to the heart of Bromsgrove with the creation of a sensory garden at St Basils Bistro at The Pod – a unique café and community centre that supports St Basils’ mission to end youth homelessness.
St Basils, a charitable organisation dedicated to assisting individuals aged 16-25 who are homeless or at risk of homelessness, has long been a cornerstone of community support. The charity aims to empower young people, foster their confidence, develop their skills, and increase opportunities to prevent homelessness.
Inspired by the soothing charm of the Mediterranean, the sensory garden, crafted by UK Electrical’s passionate team, provides a therapeutic, safe, and inclusive outdoor space. The café and community centre, backed by Worcestershire County Council and Bromsgrove District Housing Trust (BDHT), use all proceeds to further St Basils’ work. The centre also offers young people valuable work experience in the hospitality industry, opening doors to future employment opportunities.
The sensory garden offers visitors a unique, immersive experience, encouraging interaction with nature in a soothing, therapeutic and uplifting environment. The garden provides stimulation through a vibrant array of sensory elements – sight, smell, sound, touch, and even taste – each designed to enhance mental health and well-being, provide sensory integration, enrich learning experiences, and improve quality of life.
Debbie Fellows, Operations Director at UK Electrical, expressed her company’s enthusiasm about the project, saying:
“We are incredibly proud to have had the opportunity to contribute to St Basils’ remarkable work. As a company, we’re not just about providing services. We’re committed to making a real difference in our community. The sensory garden, with its Mediterranean vibe, serves as a haven for the young people at St Basils and the local community groups that utilise the centre.”
Debbie continued;
“I’d like to give a special thanks to our volunteer joiners who installed the fencing and seating; Dave Lawson and Adam French, and to the UK Electrical staff who turned their hand to painting and gardening; Steven Grey, Simon Barber, Sam Pearson, Tom Woodfield, and Ian Sanford.
We all really enjoyed creating the garden, and meeting the lovely staff and customers at the bistro, despite the Great British weather doing its best to put a dampener on things! Our guys literally worked through torrential rain and howling winds.
It’s our hope that the serene environment we’ve created will not only offer respite but also encourage growth, curiosity, and a sense of belonging.”
St Basils Bistro at The Pod, along with its new sensory garden, is for everybody to enjoy. The space is used by many local community groups, including crafting groups, mindfulness groups and autism groups and during the school holidays children can eat for free.
With the sensory garden set to become an integral part of St Basils’ support framework, it showcases the essential role of creative, community-driven projects in providing innovative solutions to societal challenges.
St Basils works tirelessly to ensure the young people they support find and keep a home, grow their confidence, and develop their skills. The sensory garden is expected to play a crucial role in these efforts, offering an innovative approach to holistic development and mental well-being. Vicky Leaning of St Basils said:
“A massive thank you to everyone involved. The garden will make a big impact on the Bistro and the community. What was a dull space has been reformed into a bright and beautiful area. With all the sensory features. Not only is this beneficial for the customers and other groups that use the area bistro but it’s also a time-out space for volunteers and staff to relax listening to the trickling of water and the sound of the wind charms. A MASSIVE THANK YOU from all at St Basil’s Bistro.”
UK Electrical has shown that businesses can extend their influence beyond their immediate operational interests, investing their resources and expertise in projects that enrich their communities. As Debbie concludes;
“Our goal is to inspire other businesses to follow suit and realise that their impact can go beyond their core services. After all, building a better community is a shared responsibility.”
Remember, St Basils directly benefits from the profits of the bistro and from renting out the space. So, make sure to stop by and show your support! For more information about St Basils and their community services, visit www.stbasils.org.uk.
