Posted on 19 May 2026
The League of Friends to The Robert Jones and Agnes Hunt Orthopaedic Hospital (RJAH) has welcomed a team of 21 Co-op colleagues from across the West Midlands, the North West and North Wales for a day of corporate volunteering in support of its Gardening for Health scheme.
The initiative, run by the hospital Friends, is a volunteer-led programme dedicated to maintaining and enhancing gardens and wellbeing spaces across the RJAH site.
Volunteers from the local community work throughout the year to create and develop green spaces that provide important areas of calm for patients, visitors and staff.
The Co-op team spent the day clearing flower beds, cleaning benches, mulching garden areas, planting trees and helping to create a new wildflower meadow. The activity highlighted the impact of the ongoing work at the hospital while directly contributing to the improvement of patient and staff environments.
The Gardening for Health scheme has also been selected by the Co-op Local Community Fund as one of its supported causes for 2026, enabling Co-op members to continue backing the project through their membership app at no additional cost.
Craig Emery, Co-op Operations Manager said: “The Co-op aims to really make a difference for our members in our local communities, so it was a pleasure to bring our local managers and regional team to support the amazing work of the League of Friends volunteers.
“We hope our small contribution will help to make a difference to patients, visitors and staff at RJAH and look forward to seeing the planting scheme thrive this year.”
Victoria Sugden, Friends CEO, said: “We’re very grateful to Co-op for their support and for the time their teams gave to come and volunteer with us. It was a fantastic day, and their help has made a real difference to our gardening spaces for patients, visitors and staff.”
Gardening for Health continues to depend on the dedication of volunteers and active community involvement to achieve its objectives, with corporate volunteering days increasingly contributing to the strengthening of relationships with local businesses and organisations.
The League of Friends is encouraging other businesses to take part in similar volunteering opportunities to support patient wellbeing and hospital environments.
If you or your organisation would like to get involved in a volunteer day, please contact: sophie.taylor113@nhs.net
Co-op members can also support the Gardening for Health scheme directly by selecting the League of Friends as their chosen cause via the Co-op membership app.
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