YMCA Bournemouth was delighted to welcome volunteers from the Nationwide mortgage team to Sandyholme recently, where the team generously gave their time and energy to support the site with a day of gardening, painting, and tidying up.
The group rolled up their sleeves and got stuck into a variety of tasks, helping to refresh the grounds and outdoor spaces in preparation for Sandyholme’s busy summer season. From trimming hedges and painting benches to general sprucing up, their efforts brought a noticeable lift to the site.
Sandyholme is a retreat and activity-base centre offering self-catering accommodation to families, clubs and groups. The property features 28 beds across eight bedrooms, three kitchens, five bath/shower rooms and several spacious communal areas including a large dining/meeting room, lounge and conservatory.
The house is set in its own peaceful grounds, which include a patio area (with large BBQ range), a lawn, wooded areas, and a driveway with parking for up to six cars—making it an ideal space for residential retreats, youth work, and wellbeing activities.
Speaking on behalf of the Nationwide team, Sam said:
“We wanted to come and help out for the day at Sandyholme. As we work in an office environment, it was really important to pick somewhere where we could be active and get stuck into some manual labour and really make a difference to a worthy charity.
We did all the tasks we were hoping to achieve—gardening, cleaning and painting—to give Sandyholme a little lift ready for its summer guests.
We truly had an amazing day. We got to meet some amazing people who work there, so thank you to Chris, Mark, Dean and Lillie for making us feel so welcome and looking after us with tea, coffee, snacks, and Purbeck Ice Cream!
We are so proud of what we achieved and loved being able to make a difference. The sun was shining, the fresh air was refreshing, and we really enjoyed chatting as a team—which we don’t get to do very often while working remotely.
Thank you for the best day.”
Martin Stockley, Joint Chief Operations Officer at YMCA Bournemouth, added:
“It was a real pleasure to welcome the Nationwide team to Sandyholme. Their enthusiasm, teamwork and willingness to get stuck in made a real impact on the space. Volunteers like Jo, Sam and their colleagues help us keep Sandyholme a peaceful and welcoming place for our guests.
We’re incredibly grateful—not just for the hard work, but for the spirit they brought with them.”
YMCA Bournemouth would like to extend a huge thank you to Jo, Sam and the whole Nationwide mortgage team for their hard work, enthusiasm and kindness. Their support helps us maintain a welcoming and restful space at Sandyholme for those who need it most
