For the fourth year in a row leading care home provider, Oakland Care, have participated in a range of green initiatives across their ten care homes in London and the South East as part of Greener Month.
Over the last several years September has been a poignant moment for the ‘greener choice’ of care homes, with the date pivotal to its sustainability efforts and ongoing commitment to protecting the environment. What first began as ‘Green Week’ has evolved into a four-week marathon of events and activities focused on positive environmental change.
Since launching it has proved to be a huge success. It has brought together team members, residents, and members of their communities to plant trees, undertake beach clean ups, launch a wildlife garden, and take educational trips focused on sustainability, including a visit to an offshore windfarm.
This year has seen Oakland Care continue to push the boundaries of sustainability in social care with a further expansion of their programme of activities. Each Oakland Care home has held their own ‘Eco Fair’, inviting local sustainable businesses to exhibit stalls focussed on re-using materials to create art and making environmentally friendly and sustainable products to sell. This has enabled Oakland Care to collaborate with people and businesses in the local community who share a passion for sustainability.
Meanwhile, the care provider has also hosted a series of seminars for local businesses in their communities to learn more about its leading sustainability strategy and how they too can make positive changes to their businesses.
In addition, residents have enjoyed visits from guest expert speakers including Essex and Kent Wildlife Trust and the Bat Conservation Trust who explained the ways in which bats can best be supported in our ecosystem.
Alongside the new, beach clean-ups and litter-picks have remained a staple to Green Week and Month. At Maplewood Court in Maidstone staff and residents joined forces with the children from a local primary school to carry out a big litter pick in the town. Elsewhere, those at Beechwood Grove in Eastbourne came together with local community organisation, Plastic Free Eastbourne, to head to the seafront for a clean-up.
Oakland Care are the first carbon neutral care group and have achieved multiple awards for their standout environmental efforts, including a ‘Gold’ award at the Green World Environment Awards earlier this year.
Joanne Balmer BEM, Chief Operating Officer of Oakland Care, said:
“September’s Greener Month and Green Week has once again proved to be a huge success. It has been wonderful to see the efforts of team members, residents, and those from our communities who have come together for so many excellent events and activities.
“Alongside the core beach cleans and tree planting sessions which have been a staple to our endeavours through Green Week and Month over the years, we have been proud to lead several seminars for our local communities focused on sharing our knowledge and learnings as the UK’s ‘greener choice’ of care home provider. We feel a strong sense of responsibility to protect the
environment and are committed to pushing towards a sustainable future for all. Making a positive impact through our activities and inspiring others on their sustainable journey is key to our efforts.
