Employee volunteers from Berkeley Group, a British property developer, ran a Summer Mocktail Social on 18 June 2025. An enthusiastic team of 10 volunteers from Berkeley’s West End Gate site provided enhanced social connections for a dozen residents at Leonora House. Based on Lanark Road, Leonora House is a supported housing scheme for older people and those living with disabilities. Resident are encouraged to live as independently as possible and receive care and support that is tailored to each person’s individual needs.

Volunteers at the refreshment station.

Armed with cocktail shakers, muddlers and strainers, Berkeley volunteers became bartenders for the afternoon by supervising a drop-in refreshment station for residents to come along, meet new people and socialise. Volunteers took on board resident requests when preparing the menu, and the star of the show was the Pineapple and Lime Fizz! All recipes were either no or low-sugar to ensure all residents could enjoy healthy, immune-boosting, non-alcoholic drinks in the afternoon sun. Volunteers also ran games of bingo, with a playlist of classic ‘70s songs providing a backdrop in the communal lounge, filling the room with song, smiles and laughter.

Berkeley volunteers led a games session as bingo callers.

Among the most popular mocktail was the Pineapple and Lime Fizz.

In addition to the mocktail social, volunteers also helped improve the outdoor space at Leonora House. The home is lucky to have a sizeable back garden, however, it requires constant attention. A team of volunteers took to work on a number of practical tasks, including installing a garden arch, kindly purchased by the volunteer team. After Leonora staff were struggling to contain a number of climbing plants on the grounds, the newly-assembled arch not only provides structure for the plants to grow, particularly the jasmine, but also makes a stunning impression on the garden.

Berkeley volunteers donated, constructed and installed a garden arch.

A beautiful selection of flowers were planted across the garden, providing pops of colour throughout and adding to the garden’s sensory experience for residents. Volunteers also helped carry out weeding as well as painting a garden bench, all helping maintain the site as a safe and welcoming outdoor space for residents to enjoy, particularly over the summer months.

Volunteers carried out planting activities in the sunshine at Leonora House.

The employee volunteer team from Berkeley at Leonora House.

Residents at Leonora House thanking Berkeley volunteers.

If you are a Marble Arch BID member and would like to find out more about the wide range of community engagement and employee volunteering opportunities, please contact Phil at community@marble-arch.london.