Blooming great support for volunteers

Blooming great support for volunteers 

A group that works tirelessly all year round to keep a Birmingham suburb looking blooming lovely has been given a boost by generous city workers.

Moseley in Bloom’s team of volunteers carries out improvement work across the area, making it a more attractive place to live and work. The group has been given a donation of £200 by staff at employment experts Pertemps People Development Group (PPDG). The good cause was nominated by PPDG colleagues Hilary Roberts and Heather Ramsden.

Hilary said: “I originally nominated Moseley in Bloom for GAYE support a couple of years back when I was impressed by the vibrant flower displays in the village centre and wanted to help keep this up. 

“Although PPDG doesn’t have a centre in Moseley itself, our nearby Sparkhill centre supports clients from this somewhat eclectic area of Birmingham.  I was aware that Moseley in Bloom is run by volunteers and, being a bit of a ‘balcony gardener’ myself, thought that if I couldn’t spare the time to help them with their digging, I could at least help them financially.

 “What people may not be aware of is that Bloom is not just about creating some pretty flowerboxes once a year in the main public locations to be judged for the national ‘Britain in Bloom’ awards, but it’s an all-year community effort.

 Recent projects include:

• planting runner beans and other climbing flowering plants up the perimeter fences to disguise a disused car dealership.
• painting graffiti-style plants and flowers on a boarded-up shop.
• working with other community service groups/youth project groups to tidy up areas of the village, e.g. repainting fences, bollards etc.
• creating attractive raised planted beds in locations such as car parks.

Hilary added: “All of these things take both time and money, so I’m delighted we’ve been able to help the Bloom team.”

PPDG’s total donations to charities and good causes through its award winning payroll-giving scheme recently broke the £150,000 barrier. Around two thirds of employees are involved in payroll deductions that benefit others less fortunate in the community.