LOCKS HEAD, Hampshire — The Lockswood Care and Wellbeing Centre, operated by Age Concern Hampshire, has emerged this week with a visibly rejuvenated exterior after a two-day volunteer-led renovation. A team of 12 B&Q staff members painted the communal hall, reset the landscaped garden, and planted 47 new shrubs and perennials, transforming what had become a tired space into a welcoming environment for staff and visitors alike.
The project followed the retailer’s Community Days programme, a UK-wide initiative now in its eighth year that matches store teams with local charities to address maintenance and aesthetic needs. All materials—spanning 18 litres of exterior paint, 25 kilograms of topsoil, and 12 bags of compost—were donated by B&Q’s Locks Heath branch, eliminating any cost to the care centre.
Key Points
- ✅ Second annual B&Q volunteer project at the centre
- ⚡ 47 new plants installed and flower beds regenerated
- 💡 All materials provided free of charge by B&Q
Hannah Park, operations manager at Age Concern Hampshire, said the transformation had exceeded expectations. “The hall now feels brighter, safer, and more inviting,” she told reporters on Monday. “Our residents have already commented on how much nicer it is to walk through the garden path. It’s not just a coat of paint—it’s a mood lifter.”
| Project Element | Before | After |
|---|---|---|
| Communal Hall Paint | Faded cream, visible cracks | Fresh magnolia, smooth finish |
| Garden Beds | Overgrown, sparse blooms | Weeded, enriched soil, 47 new plants |
| Pathway Lighting | Two broken fixtures | All six functioning LED units restored |
Community Days, launched in 2017, has delivered over £1.8 million in donated materials and 120,000 volunteer hours to 840 charities across the UK and Ireland. The Hampshire initiative is part of a wider regional push this spring, with B&Q targeting care homes, hospices, and dementia support centres in need of exterior uplifts.
💡 Pro Tip
Charities seeking similar support should register interest online before June 30 each year. Priority is given to organisations with limited budgets and high community impact.
Local residents and relatives of care centre users have praised the changes. One family member, who asked not to be named, said: “My mother moved in last month and she’d never seen the garden so green. She’s been sitting outside every afternoon since the work finished.”
📋 By The Numbers
- 18 litres — Exterior paint donated and applied
- £0 — Total cost to the care centre
Age Concern Hampshire plans to expand its outdoor activities programme this summer, citing the renewed environment as a key enabler. B&Q’s Community Days coordinator for the South East confirmed that five more centres would receive similar makeovers by August, with Hampshire slated to benefit from two additional projects.
- 📊 Community Days has supported 840 charities since 2017
- 🔍 Hampshire is one of six regional priority areas this spring
- ⚠️ Volunteer availability remains limited—organisations urged to apply early