As part of their Community Payback Programme, the Probation Service has been working with Southway Residential Home, Cowbridge, to carry out transformative works to the care home.

 The Council-run care home recently secured funding from the League of Friends to transform the garden space at their premises.

With the funding, the care home was able to enlist the support of the Community Payback team to carry out landscaping work.

The work included digging up turf and replanting new grass, to create a safe environment surrounding the path area. The team also have plans to restore wooden benches in the garden area for the residents to use. 

This is the latest example of partnership working between the Vale of Glamorgan Council and the Probation Service.

Robert Robbins, Community Payback Operations Manager for Cardiff and the Vale said: "It has been such a fantastic opportunity to work with Southway Residential Home on this project. 

"We hope that this work is only the start of what could be a really worthwhile partnership between the Community Payback team, Southway Residential Home, and the Vale of Glamorgan Council.

 "Going forward, we can assist Southway with further maintenance work and carry out further residential projects in the Vale in the future."

Marijke Jenkins, Operational Manager for Social Services in the Vale of Glamorgan Council, said: "The work carried out at Southway Residential by the Community Payback Team has been outstanding.

 "The transformation of the garden will make such a difference to our service users, with a garden space that is more calming and accessible for residents.

"We hope to collaborate with the Community Payback Service on further projects, not just at Southway, but at residential homes across the Vale."

The Cardiff and Vale Community Payback Service already support a great deal of maintenance work within Sheltered Housing with Cardiff City Council, and hope that the landscaping work at Southway Residential is just the start of a beneficial partnership with the Vale Council.

The team hope to assist the care home with further work including interior decorating. They will also provide assistance to Ty Dewi Sant Residential Home in Penarth to tidy up their exterior green spaces.