The Yealm Ward at Royal Devon & Exeter Hospital has been voted as a winner of our Well Built Community Fund and now has £1,000 to spend on building materials.
The hospital received the most votes following a public poll where it was up against the Cornwall Wildlife Trust and Court Fields Pre-school in Wellington.
The Yealm Ward specialises in the rehabilitation of those who have suffered a stroke, and patients can be on the ward from between two and 12 weeks.
The team would like to create a therapy garden for use by patients to aid their recovery, and as a welcoming outdoor area for families to spend time in. The £1,000 to spend at our Exeter branch will be used to build raised planting beds, create a wheelchair friendly walkway, install a pagoda, and much more.
Michele Richards, Matron for Yealm Ward at Royal Devon & Exeter Hospital, commented: "We're thrilled to be voted as Community Fund winners and would like to thank everyone who voted for us, and to RGB for their kind donation.
"We've been fundraising for the garden by holding a variety of events, and we've been humbled by the fantastic generosity of patients, their families and hospital staff. The Community Fund win will now allow us to get started, and we hope to have the project finished by the summer so our patients can begin to benefit from it."
Paul West, Branch Manager at RGB Exeter, visited the area the ward team will be transforming. He added: "Congratulations to the team at the Yealm Ward. This type of project is exactly what our Well Built Community Fund is for, and we look forward to helping them choose the materials to complete the garden. We wish them good luck with the project and I look forward to returning to see the end result."