August 16, 2013 9.18 am This story is over 139 months old

Teens help Lincoln elderly in voluntary programme

Helping the community: Teenagers helped improve a Boultham care home, decorating the house and running an ice cream parlour.

Residents Kath Smith (left) and Thille Entickape (Right) with NCS volunteers (L-R) Lia Maltman, Sam Preston, Heather McGarva, Heather Bruce, Megan Wing, Gary Taylor, Becky Tse, Aneleise Spindley, Bradley Reeve, Seb Clement, Chris Rylatt, Jordan McMahon, Imogen Gray, Lauren Craig, Jake Smith, and Zoe Kettleborough in the garden. Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite

A team of Lincolnshire teens have helped improve a city care home as part of a national volunteer programme.

Over 500 young people from across Lincolnshire and Rutland spent a total of 15,000 hours developing and implementing nearly 50 community projects as part of the National Citizen Service (NCS).

Teens aged 16 and 17 had the opportunity to take part in challenges and exciting activities over the summer.

At the same time, they had chance to form new friendships and develop vital life skills.

As part of the NCS programme, groups chose and implemented a project that’s beneficial to their local community, through the Social Action Project.

Imogen Gray (16) from Lincoln, who has been working on a Social Action Project with other Lincolnshire teens.

Her team worked at Boultham Day Care Home, tidying the garden by repairing lawn furniture, cleaning the greenhouse and replanting flowers.

She said: “The best part of working for our Social Action Project has been gaining more maturity and completing tasks without much instruction, just using our own initiative.

“It’s been great seeing how much the residents at Boultham appreciate what we’ve done.”

Other Social Action Projects that have been taking place or are currently being undertaken throughout Lincolnshire include:

  • Creating an ice creamparlour and tea room at Boultham Care Home in Lincoln
  • Painting fences and planting flowers at Jubilee Park in Woodhall Spa
  • Renovating a church hall at Christ Church in Grantham
  • Making paths, planting new trees and removing dead trees at Westgate Woods in Boston and the Forestry Commission in Market Rasen
  • Painting garden furniture and fences at Foxby Court in Gainsborough

Megan Wing (16) from Kirton-in-Lindsey added: “I’ve met loads of new people and made some really good friends – all while building confidence.

“If I hadn’t joined NCS, I would’ve spent my summer doing absolutely nothing, probably watching TV at home.

“Instead, NCS has given me the opportunity to make new friends and step out of my comfort zone – things I don’t think I’d have done otherwise.”