Oakland Care’s Support a School campaign is transforming classrooms, playgrounds, and green spaces across London and the South East — bringing care home teams and local communities together to deliver hands-on projects and sustainability initiatives that are making a real difference to children’s lives. And as schools return for a new term, the results of those partnerships are already coming to life.
When pupils at Gildredge House in East Sussex returned to school this autumn, they were greeted by a brand-new wetland habitat buzzing with life — dragonflies hovering above the water, native plants beginning to bloom, and a space designed to bring science lessons to life. It’s not the kind of project you’d usually associate with a care home company. But then again, Oakland Care isn’t doing business as usual.
The wetland is just one of several imaginative projects created through Oakland Care’s new “Support a School” campaign, a community initiative designed to give local schools a helping hand with projects that make a difference. Launched earlier this year, the scheme invited schools near the company’s ten care homes across London and the South East to apply for grants and volunteer support. Seven were chosen — and what followed shows how powerful partnerships between schools and care providers can be.
At Forty Hill Primary School in Enfield, for example, an overgrown patch of land that had become a dumping ground has been transformed into a thriving allotment where pupils now grow fruit and vegetables. Over in Kent, children at Horizon Primary Academy have a brand-new outdoor reading space designed specifically to support those with special educational needs. And in Hildenborough, a new school pathway — once just a wishlist item — is now under construction thanks to Oakland Care’s volunteers.
These projects are about more than building paths and planting gardens. They are about building connections between generations and creating greener, more welcoming spaces for young people to learn and play. As part of the campaign, schools could apply for up to £1,000 in funding — but the real magic has come from the time and skills donated by care home staff, head office employees, and even Oakland Care’s supply chain partners.
“We feel a real sense of responsibility to support the communities we’re part of,” says Aaron White, Assistant Director of Corporate Services & Sustainability at Oakland Care. “It’s been incredibly rewarding to see our teams rolling up their sleeves alongside teachers and pupils — and in many cases, residents’ grandchildren and great-grandchildren are the ones who benefit.”
At Lambourne Primary in Essex, the focus was on sustainable travel, with funding going towards a new bike shelter to encourage families to cycle to school. The project builds on Oakland Care’s wider sustainability ambitions, which include its annual Greener Month — a four-week programme of events focused on environmental action, from reducing waste to planting trees.
The ‘Support a School’ campaign is also a glimpse of bigger things to come. It’s the first step towards a new initiative called “Caring for the Community”, due to launch in 2026, which will extend funding and volunteer support beyond schools to other local groups and projects.
For Oakland Care, these activities are about redefining what a care provider can and should be. “We’re not just here to provide care within our homes,” Aaron explains. “We’re part of a bigger ecosystem — of families, schools, and neighbourhoods. Supporting them helps us all thrive.”
The benefits go both ways. Many care home residents have been following the progress of the projects with pride, while staff have relished the chance to contribute to something that will last for years. “It’s been heart-warming to see how much joy these projects bring, not just to the schools but to our own teams,” Aaron adds.
As the new bike racks fill up, the allotments flourish, and pupils explore their new outdoor spaces, the ‘Support a School’ campaign is proving that when care providers and communities work together, the results can be truly transformative — for young and old alike.
