A remarkable community effort to restore an end-of-life hospital garden is inspiring a wider appeal from Raising Health, the registered charity of Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust (LPT), for local businesses and community groups to help transform healthcare environments across Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland.

An overgrown and underused outdoor space at LPT-run Rutland Memorial Hospital has been given a new lease of life thanks to the generosity and hard work of local community group, the Rutland Lions Club, demonstrating the impact that volunteers can have on the experiences of patients, families and NHS staff.

Members of the Rutland Lions dedicated their time and energy to clearing years of overgrowth from the courtyard garden, breathing new life into a space that had long been overlooked. With support from local business MS Exterior Cleaning and the efforts of volunteers who restored benches and refreshed communal areas, the transformation has laid the foundations for a peaceful outdoor environment that can be enjoyed by patients, visitors and colleagues.

The project began with an idea from Jean, one of the hospital’s longstanding volunteers, who recognised the untapped potential of the space and brought together partners willing to help make a difference.

Steve Evans, from the Rutland Lions Club, said: “To bring a neglected garden back to tender care for the benefit of patients has been very worthwhile. We were also able to enlist the support of Marc Smith from MS Exterior Cleaning who did an excellent job on the paving and walled areas. Dave, one of our members, also took time to repaint the benches. All considered, a great outcome.”

The transformation also marks the first stage of a larger vision for the garden, with local volunteer led charity Oakham in Bloom enlisted to help with planting flowers and foliage in the green space.

Carla Yaxley, ward sister at the hospital said: “The transformation of the courtyard marks the first stage of an exciting wider project. The vision is to create a beautiful, calming garden that can offer comfort, reflection and a connection with nature during some of life’s most difficult moments.”

The work at Rutland Memorial Hospital is just one example of how community groups and organisations can make a lasting difference through group volunteering.

Recent projects have included a team from Selfridges transforming an outdoor space at Coalville Community Hospital as part of a Corporate Social Responsibility volunteering day, and CLC Contractors, who generously donated both their time and materials to help create a welcoming garden space for patients receiving palliative care at Melton Mowbray Community Hospital.

Raising Health hopes the success of these projects will inspire other organisations to step forward and get involved in similar initiatives.

Magdalena Korytkowska, fundraising manager for Raising Health said: “The volunteers from the Rutland Lions have made a huge difference and we’re incredibly grateful for their support.

“Now we’re inviting other community groups, businesses and organisations to get involved. Whether it’s revitalising outdoor spaces, improving children’s services environments or supporting wider improvement projects, there are lots of opportunities to make a real difference.

“If your team is looking for a volunteering opportunity that delivers visible results and benefits local patients, we’d love to hear from you.”

Raising Health helps fund projects, equipment, and innovations that go above and beyond standard NHS provision to enhance the experience of patients, service users and staff.

The message is simple: if the Rutland Lions can help transform an overlooked space into something with lasting value, imagine what other local groups could achieve.

To find out more about current group volunteering opportunities, read Raising Health’s opportunities brochure: https://lptnhs.com/group-volunteering or contact the Raising Health team: lpt.raisinghealth@nhs.net.