Bringing the beach to Fairview

THE sun shone down on the gardens of the Mater Hospital’s Post-Acute Services Centre in Fairview recently for a very special community event.

Twenty-four Google volunteers were welcomed into the building for a day of seaside themed activities organised by the Mater Foundation, the fundraising body for the Mater Misericordia Hospital. 

The Post-Acute Care Services is a 75-bed facility that is used for patients who have urgent, short-term medical needs. 

It is a vital resource for patients who are not quite ready to go home or go to a nursing home. 

For them, the Mater Hospital provides invaluable support to patients and their family until discharge from hospital is an option. 

Google in Ireland has a strong Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programme with a deep history of community engagement. 

Their employees are encouraged to volunteer their time and skills with local charities that match their personal passion. 

Introduced by Business in the Community Ireland, Google staff stepped forward to create an aptly-themed project, entitled ‘Bring the beach to Fairview’, for the Mater Foundation.

This fantastic initiative enabled the transformation of the Joyce Garden into a stylish seaside resort. The eager volunteers created a beach hut and Blackpool photo booth, alongside decorating the surrounding greenery with bunting. 

Patients mingled happily with volunteers, enjoying ice-cream, painting shells, dipping their toes into the paddling pool, playing in the sand pit and singing summer songs. All in glorious sunshine! The activities and social interaction bought huge smiles to the faces of the patients, with the activities serving to stimulate cognitive behaviour and memory through sensory engagement.

Inez Buresti, Account Manager at Google, said: “We are all very grateful for the opportunity we had sharing the day, with the organisers and the patients, singing, dancing and painting. There was so much energy and joy everywhere. 

“Thanks Mater Foundation, with your people and actions you bring daily happiness to the patients, and that is all that matters."

Mary Moorhead, chief executive of the Mater Foundation, said ‘Bringing the Beach to Fairview’ was a really creative and fun project that the patients and volunteers thoroughly enjoyed. 

“They loved the chat and interaction with the younger generation,” said Ms Moorhead. 

“It makes them feel they are part of the community. 

“I want to express my sincere thanks to the Google staff for their hard work in creating the seaside and bringing it to patients who were not well enough or are were unable to travel to see the sea.”