Age was quickly forgotten when members of Cleveland Fire Brigade’s Later Life Club met with students from Redcar and Cleveland College to flex their creative muscles.
The result is a four-foot Tree of Life mosaic that now adorns the wall of a new community garden launched at Redcar Community Fire Station.
“Everybody is just in awe of what they have created,” said Nicky Huntley, Cleveland Fire Brigade’s befriending co-ordinator.
She explained that no one quite expected the size or scale of the mosaic, but it is the focal point of the outdoor area that will now offer a place for the community to visit, and for brigade and coastguard staff to take a few moments to reflect and take a breath.
Davey Veitch, from the commissioned services team at Cleveland Fire Brigade, said: “We had a bit of underused space that just needed a bit of love and attention. We decided to transform it into something a bit nicer for the Later Life Club members.”
With a £5000 community grant from The Woodsmith Foundation, to help cover the cost of the garden, and £2000 from Bupa, the small yard has been transformed into a much more welcoming space.
The club turned to Redcar and Cleveland College to ask if students could lend a hand with a bespoke piece of artwork. King’s Trust Achieve students met with the Later Life Club members to share themes and ideas.
Settling on a Tree of Life mosaic, Nicky said: “Working on the mosaic seemed to help the conversation to flow. Given something to focus on, age didn’t seem to come into it. The interaction was brilliant.”
Described by its members as “life-changing”, the Later Life Club (LLC) was created by the fire service for those aged 65 and above, from Redcar and Cleveland, to offer social opportunities for those living alone or who may be feeling isolated.
Made possible with support from business grants and awards, including those from the Woodsmith Foundation and National Lottery, calls are now going out to businesses for backing to carry on the club’s work next year.
Bi-monthly meetings provide a safe place for a get together and a chat, with regular guest speakers, workshops, games and quizzes and, of course, there’s tea and biscuits.
Nicky said: “From the brigade side it’s a chance to share important safety messages as we offer advice, safer home visits and provide free smoke alarms. Most of all we are here to offer friendship and make sure members of the community feel welcome.”
Redcar and Cleveland College’s King’s Trust Achieve tutor, Daniel Ramsdale, said: “It was great experience for the students to be able to spend time with the Later Life Club members, to chat and have a bit of a laugh together. It was so nice to see the two age groups working together, telling each other about their lives and generally sharing advice.”
Ronnie Iveson, 85, said: “The young ones were really good, we went and met them at the college, and they gave us some good ideas.”
Lila Reveley, 79, added: “We went about three times, and it was lovely to see the mosaic taking shape.”
Working on smaller sections of the design – which comprises 3962 pieces – King’s Trust student Toby, 17, said: “Because we worked on it in pieces it was good to see it all put together. It’s a bit bigger than I thought it was going to be!”
Assistant chief fire officers Simon Weastell and Kristine Ward were there to see the garden and mosaic officially unveiled.
Simon said: “The garden is now a lovely space for the Later Life Club members, the community and staff to enjoy. We regularly attend challenging incidents and so to have this space to come and relax and reflect will help with the wellbeing of our staff.”
Kristine added: “Ultimately, as a fire service, we are there for people on what is potentially the worst day of their lives. If, through projects like this, we can build relationships before that happens, or even prevent those incidents, by sharing important safety messages, then that is the purpose of what we do.”
