Orchard House Care Home Supports Community Food Project- Part I

 Orchard House Care Home in Wisbech, Cambridge, truly cares about the residents who live within the home. Each resident has their own individual stories, passions, and interests, and the team at the home does all they can to honour every aspect of each person.

Wherever a resident has spent their lives, either in the local community or another location, it is evident that they share a sense of community and pride in where they live.

The home’s General Manager, Sarah Watson, and the team are passionate about their local community and the people who live within it.

They are even more dedicated to ensuring that the residents who live at Orchard House Care Home still feel part of the community and that they can actively play a role if they choose to.

The home has a long history of supporting the community through initiatives such as their Company Café, Winter Warm Hubs, Dementia Coffee Mornings, and seasonal fetes.

They also like to support local charities and have raised funds for the local food bank, Queen Elizabeth Hospital, and most recently E.A.C.H Children’s Hospice.

Recently they have embarked on a new project, joining a number of individuals and groups in the area supporting the Feed Fenland initiative.

The Feed Fenland project is fighting food poverty in the local area by offering hot meals, clothing, advice, and support to those in need. Anyone can get involved and support by growing fresh produce or by donating clothing, food, and sanitary products.

Pioneer of the home’s involvement in the project is Lifestyle Lead Miranda Robinson, who shared more about the idea behind the home’s involvement: “We’ve been working with our local Tesco and their Community Champion, Julie, to grow vegetables to support the Feed Fenland project. They kindly asked us to be involved in the project, having supported some of our other community events and fundraising. The project supports those unable to afford to put a meal on the table or who are homeless in our local community.”

The home already has a number of residents who are avid gardeners, and their greenhouse is always a hive of activity, as seeds are propagated and nurtured into small plants.

Miranda continued, “We have already been to the allotment and helped prepare the beds for the young plants which are growing in our greenhouse, and we’re looking forward to coming back in the next couple of weeks to plant them.”

Sarah Watson, the home’s General Manager, was eager to share her thanks for the support from those leading the project who have enabled the residents to become involved. “I’d like to say a big thank you to Malcolm and Andrew and the rest of the team of volunteers at the allotments who have been incredibly supportive and accommodating to ensure accessibility for the residents to help with planting and to get involved as much as possible.”

Over the coming weeks, we are looking forward to sharing updates from the allotments and showcasing the array of freshly home-grown vegetables and fruits that the residents help to grow.