Ally Rangers are sowing the seeds of success
16 November 2017
For the last two months, the group known as the Ally Rangers have worked together with ISS Facility Services Landscaping (a grounds maintenance services provider, who has been working in partnership with the Royal Borough since 2000) to carry out a range of horticultural tasks such as pruning roses, weeding and clearing pathways.
The initiative follows the success of the Raymill Rangers at Raymill Island in Maidenhead where service users from the Boyn Grove Community Resource Centre are doing similar work.
Optalis Support Worker Karl Morley who leads the Ally Rangers says, “This project is helping adults with learning disabilities gain new skills and knowledge. The team are really proud of what they are achieving and this has built confidence and encouraged them to work towards a formal qualification in grounds maintenance.”
The group recently helped an elderly lady who had travelled some distance to attend her mother’s grave. The grave was very overgrown and Karl and the group saw she was struggling and stepped in to help. The following day, a card arrived from the lady thanking Karl and his group for their help and for offering to tend the grave in her absence which gave the group a great sense of pride that they were giving something back to the community.
Phil Jones, Managing Director, ISS Facility Services Landscaping said “The Ally Rangers and the Raymill Rangers have both been exceptionally rewarding projects for ISS. The Rangers are now an integrated part of our team. At ISS, we strive to make a positive impact in the communities where we operate and working with Optalis and their service users has enabled us to build sustainable relationships and support local community members. We hope to continue to develop the work we are doing to help adults with learning disabilities gain new skills in the Royal Borough.”
Pictured are Optalis Chief Executive Officer, Martin Farrow together with colleagues and members of the Ally Rangers and ISS Facility Services Landscaping
Previous article
Do you know an Optalis staff member who works extra hard?
We are inviting the people we support, and their families, to tell us about the shining stars of our organisation.
