Special Award
Kirsty receives her special award from Mayor Martin Winter
Elderly residents at Plantation View care home are enjoying a year round summer, thanks to a sunny, seaside mural lovingly painted by Kirsty over a six week period in her spare time.
Staff suggested recreating a seaside theme in the home's quadrangle to provide diversionary therapy for residents, who suffer from dementia, anxiety and depression, and to reduce the need for drug intervention.
Kirsty, daughter of one of the home’s care assistants, volunteered to paint the colourful 42 square metre mural, with beach scene and fish and chip shop, with no art training.
Staff and residents alike speak very highly of Kirsty’s hard work and the resulting mural, which has brightened the lives of these vulnerable residents.
Since completion of the mural the quadrangle has been given sand-coloured cushion flooring to make it safer for residents to use the area to relax and to play ball games.
Mayor Martin Winter said, "After the nominations had closed and the judging panels had taken place Kirsty's achievements were brought to my attention and I felt that her hard work and dedication could not go uncelebrated.
"Despite working a full time job with the Post Office and numerous other pressures on her time, she willingly committed to dedicate her free time to bring a little joy to others, something which displays a great deal of Doncaster 'spirit'.
"She is an inspirational example of effortlessly giving time for the benefit of others I am delighted to have bene able to present a Special Award to Kirsty."
