Store Manager Roxanna Sanaee welcomed the idea and immediately put aside 5 litres of paint to be donated. Roxanna was so intrigued by the project that she and her team, colleagues Nick Edwards and Mike McGrath, popped down to Lordshill to hear more about the activities held at the farm and to see how they could get involved. “It was such a lovely project being done for the community; each year we try to do some voluntary work for a worthwhile cause and this really appealed to us” said Roxanna. “When we met Giverny and saw how enthusiastic she was about the farm and how it is such an important space for the local community to go to, we were hooked. To have a farm on your doorstep that lets you fully interact with the animals, but also educates people on the environment and how to be creative with materials found in nature – it’s a pretty special place. We also appreciate that it helps many people, not just one set user group, meaning a small makeover will actually benefit hundreds of people over time.”
I then had the challenge of seeking a tiler to tile the hand washing area first. After a shout out on the farm’s Facebook page, a lovely family got in touch to say that Shane Kingston, a local tiler (and Father to an Autistic boy who has found a real safe space at the farm) would happily help refurbish the area for the farm. “My son Theo adores this place, so it feels good to be able to give something back.”
The bathroom refurbishment has made a significant improvement to the farm. Health and Safety is paramount for us, especially when handling animals, and to have a fresh and clean area completely free of charge thanks to the kindness and support of local residents and businesses within the community is fantastic. We are all so grateful to Shane and the Dulux team – we couldn’t have done it without them!
- Giverny Bendall