RMBI Care Co. Homes take on challenge to create a greener Christmas

Christmas is a time for giving; we buy gifts for loved ones and decorations to mark the season. But most of us can admit to getting a bit carried away, and not always considering what happens to the waste that we produce. After all, where does all the wrapping paper end up? How much food is thrown away? And what happens to all the unwanted gifts?

According to packaging company GWP Group, £42 million worth of unwanted Christmas presents are sent to landfills each year. Furthermore, we Brits bin the equivalent of 108 million rolls of wrapping paper. To help residents and staff become more conscious about how much we consume over the festive period, and how we can reduce waste, RMBI Care Co.’s Environmental Links, made up of representatives across the charity, created a national challenge to encourage the Homes to become greener this festive season.

We tasked residents and staff to create a Christmas tree, decoration or something meaningful to them, using the resources available. Whether that was using the ingredients in their cupboards, pinecones or sticks from the garden, or newspapers from the lounge, we wanted to maximise their creative minds using recycled or natural materials,”

says Brett Edwards, Health, Safety and Risk Director.

Residents at Harry Priestley House, in Doncaster, enjoyed an array of activities, including making their own yule logs instead of buying them. They also made snow globes with old gin and wine bottles, painted salt dough baubles, and staff donated baubles to decorate their outdoor tree.

Harry Priestley House resident, Denise, proudly displays her homemade festive yule log at her care home, in Doncaster.

At Connaught Court, in York, residents and staff made recyclable and compostable wreaths. They used cardboard for the base and attached shredded paper using homemade paste. Residents reminisced about making homemade decorations when they were younger as they decorated their wreaths with garden twine, fir cones, pasta and dried sea thistle.

At Connaught Court, in York, residents Marie and Mary make a wreath using natural materials. Pictured with Activities Coordinator, Fran.

The winning prize went to Albert Edward Prince of Wales Court, in Porthcawl, who created a 5ft Christmas tree from salvaged wood, and made decorations using recycled materials.

Home Manager, Alison Aberdeen said,

Everyone at Albert Edward has enjoyed taking part in the creation of our tree which is a unique and creative idea, centred around sustainability. It has given our residents many hours of arts and crafts activities, which have been enjoyed throughout the last month.

The Home has received £500 towards Home activities. Residents and staff across the charity’s 17 Homes have been taking part in a number of environmental activities during the year as part of RMBI Care Co.’s sustainable strategy. This includes goals to reduce the charity’s carbon footprint by half by 2029 and become carbon neutral by 2030.

[Summary: To help residents and staff become more conscious about how much we consume over the festive period, RMBI Care Co.’s Environmental Links, created a national challenge to encourage the Homes to become greener this festive season.]