2018-09-07 11:52:41

Kind-hearted volunteers from TransUnion in Leeds have given up their time to transform a sensory garden at a learning disability service in Bradford.

Shipley Resource Centre is run by Hft, a national charity supporting adults with learning disabilities. The vibrant community hub is used by more than 60 people a day and offers a range of activities including swimming, horse riding, flower arranging and music.

The 12 staff members from global risk and information solutions provider TransUnion (formerly Callcredit) visited on 20 July and 3 September and worked tirelessly to transform the tired and overgrown garden into a tranquil space – designed to stimulate the senses and allow residents to experience the outdoors in a safe and stress-free environment.

With the support of the volunteers and a £1,000 grant, the centre’s garden now has a colourfully-painted platform fully equipped with sensory items including convex and concave mirrors, butterflies with wings that move in the breeze, a metal bobbing scarecrow and several chimes, as well as a large wooden swing and plenty of new plants. Flowers and plants are at varying accessible heights, and there are different textures and objects to smell, touch and feel.

During their visit, the volunteers were also shown around the centre and had the chance to meet with support workers and supported people, enabling them to find out more about the important work Hft does supporting adults with learning disabilities to live the best life possible.

Hft supports adults with learning disabilities, providing person-centred services ranging from flexible day support to supported living at home – from a few hours a week to 24 hours a day.

Area Manager Jill Hardy is delighted with the regenerated garden: “We’re so grateful to the teams of volunteers who have worked really hard to transform our sensory platform and garden. The people we support will now be able to develop their sensory abilities by experiencing the smell, touch and feel of the garden, which offers a peaceful space to get away from it all. They can sit with their friend, have a cuppa and feel the grass beneath their feet.”

Sarah Shaw, corporate responsibility consultant at TransUnion, said: “TransUnion, formerly Callcredit, is proud to support the communities in which it operates, helping to make them better places to live and work. On hearing about the need to update the external environment at Shipley Resource Centre, a number of our colleagues used their paid volunteering leave to transform the outdoor provision, giving the people with learning disabilities supported by Hft access to an enhanced sensory garden and platform area. It was a really rewarding day and we’re delighted we were able to help. ”

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About Hft

Hft is a national charity supporting more than 2,500 adults with learning disabilities across England to live the best life possible. Established in 1962, the charity uses its own unique Fusion Model to consistently deliver high quality, person-centered support across all its services.

Services range from supported living to residential care – from a few hours a week to 24 hours a day. Hft also helps people with learning disabilities to take part in daily activities, make friends and develop relationships and to find work.

For more information about Hft please visit www.hft.org.uk

Information about learning disabilities

A learning disability can be mild, moderate, severe or profound and is defined as having a reduced ability to:

• Understand new or complex information
• Learn new skills
• Live independently

About TransUnion

TransUnion is a leading global risk and information solutions provider to businesses and consumers. The company provides consumer reports, risk scores, analytical services and decisioning capabilities to businesses. Businesses embed its solutions into their process workflows to acquire new customers, assess consumer ability to pay for services, identify cross-selling opportunities, measure and manage debt portfolio risk, collect debt, verify consumer identities and investigate potential fraud. Consumers use its solutions to view their credit profiles and access analytical tools that help them understand and manage their personal information and take precautions against identity theft.  www.transunion.com

About Callcredit 

 Callcredit (www.callcredit.co.uk) provides the data, analytics, and software that enable businesses to build more valuable customer relationships. Callcredit specialises in managing consumer data for businesses across every sector.

Founded in 2000, Callcredit features the UK’s second largest credit reference agency (CRA) and specialisms which include credit and marketing data, analytics, ID verification & fraud prevention, and consumer empowerment. Callcredit focuses on developing innovative products and services that help businesses make smarter and more informed decisions throughout the customer lifecycle.

In a first for UK consumers, in 2011 Callcredit launched Noddle (www.noddle.co.uk), the free-for-life credit reporting and scoring service with no hidden fees or 30-day trial periods, which now has more than three million customers. This service helps individuals to check their credit report and credit score and protect against fraud and identity theft.

Callcredit was acquired by TransUnion in June 2018.

Location: Hft Bradford