by Peter Connor, Great Communities Manager
Richard has been a volunteer with the Garden Gang in Warrington since it began in April 2021. He's been there week in week out in all weathers, has made lots of friends both with fellow volunteers at the project and also with other groups at the community centre.
He is one of the most recognisable faces with his warm personality, and is also known by the group as the site foreman.
Enjoying the variety
I asked Richard why he has been a dedicated volunteer, working outside all year round. Rich told me he likes doing woodwork with Mike his support worker, enjoys painting, maintaining his own veg patch and doing some art work with a brew during break times.
A creative talent
Other members of the team noticed how much Richard enjoys doing art work and adult colouring books during his break time and he has contributed his creative talent to the recent Macintyre Art exhibition with his peers from the garden gang for the past two years.
A patchwork tapestry
This year Richard has been involved in submitting two pieces of work on display with the Garden Gang Friendship Flag and also a friendship themed patchwork tapestry. Richard did the letter R on the flag and produced and cut out some of the petals that make up words that say what friendship means to the group. He contributed his own patch and some of the cuttings for the patchwork.
A winning work
The work looks fabulous and has formed an integral part of the display at the exhibition. The flag also beat stiff competition to recently win the Fairfield Flag Festival and has been on display at a recent culture Warrington event in town centre before forming a central focal point on display for the friendship theme at the exhibition.
I asked Richard why he likes art and his thoughts on this year’s art exhibition
I like doing the art work and I’m already working on something for next year. I felt very proud to see my art work up at the Gateway and like doing art work with my friends at the garden gang.
Carla and Sarah commented on seeing Richard back at the Garden Gang after the exhibition
Richard must have told me twenty times today how much he enjoyed the exhibition yesterday
Carla
Richard was absolutely buzzing today after the exhibition he's been telling us all morning about it with a smile on his face.
Sarah
Pat said:
Talking to Richard about his art its obvious how proud he is of his work and it makes me smile to see how happy he is in his job with the garden gang too.
Richard couldn’t have told us that he wanted to be part of all these things. For a time it was felt that as an older gentleman he was happy being retired and being at home, smoking in the garden. Rich was supported by people who noticed what he was into and helped him to look outwards and try them out with purpose. He has found his thing, his people and is a valued part of his local community.
How can you create the opportunities for people’s interests and skills to be valued?
