School students in Hendon are bringing a splash of colour to the lives of sheltered housing residents thanks to a new project launched by Barnet Homes.

The project has seen students from St Mary’s High School, Hendon, replanting many of the flower beds in the garden of Derby House in Parson Street, NW4, with daffodil and narcissi bulbs.

The students are all volunteers who are spending an hour after school on Mondays helping in the garden. They have been working hard since November to tidy up the grounds and make them more attractive for the older generation.

Barnet Homes Chief Executive, Tracey Lees, said: “The project is part of Barnet Homes’ efforts to encourage schools and young people to get involved in their local community. This initiative is not only creating a better environment for residents in sheltered housing, but fostering greater understanding and trust between different generations.”

Foster Peprah is one of the St Mary’s students involved. He said: “It’s fun doing the gardening here for the residents and it’s good for my future because it’s giving me experience of a community project.”

Associate Assistant Headteacher of St Mary’s, Kay Lapourides, said: “I wanted a way to dispel modern negative perceptions of young people by promoting the idea of giving, both within the school and to the wider community.  When Barnet Homes’ housing officer for the area, Lee Mariconda, suggested a gardening project opposite the school, I was only too pleased.”

Resident Doreen Buck added: “It’s absolutely fantastic that the students are volunteering in the garden for us. I like to make the children tea and have a chat afterwards. The kids are brilliant and don’t deserve the general bad press you so often hear about young people today.”

The students have been very keen to make a difference at Derby House after school and are looking for new challenges. There are now enough volunteers at St Mary’s to start on two more local community projects Lee has in development for Hendon.

The initiative follows a successful gardening project by students from The Wren Academy in North Finchley at Christchurch Close – another sheltered housing scheme – in early 2011.

Barnet Homes would like to hear from schools or any of its residents interested in taking part in future projects. Call Deborah Beckford on 020 8359 5307 or email deborah.beckford@barnethomes.