The 4th Sutton in Ashfield Brownies have transformed a £100 donation into a lasting garden of remembrance honouring young leader Grace Keeling, thanks to the Branch Out with Kindness initiative by Scrivens Opticians & Hearing Care.
Community Initiative Supports Grieving Group
Scrivens’ Idlewells Shopping Centre branch selected the Brownies for the gift, recognising their compassion, resilience and community spirit after Grace’s death. The Branch Out with Kindness programme, launched this summer, invites community groups across England and Wales to propose how a £100 gift could make a difference.
The Brownies used the funds to purchase gardening tools, planters, compost and seeds to create a dedicated remembrance space. They also decorated stones with turtle designs – Grace’s favourite animal – adding a personal touch.
Tribute to a Beloved Young Leader
Joanne Wright, branch manager at Scrivens Sutton in Ashfield, said: "When we launched the Branch Out with Kindness initiative, we wanted to celebrate the everyday acts of kindness happening in our community. The 4th Sutton in Ashfield Brownies have used their gift to create something truly special, turning grief into something beautiful. We’re honoured to support them and we hope this garden brings comfort and peace to everyone who visits it for years to come."
Catherine Graves, speaking for the Brownies leaders and young leaders, added: "Our new garden of remembrance will be a lasting tribute to Grace and everything she brought to our unit. She was a role model, friend and inspiration who helped the girls build confidence, friendship, resilience and a sense of belonging – values that remain at the heart of our unit today. For the girls, it is a meaningful way to remember Grace, process their loss and celebrate the kindness and community spirit she inspired. We are incredibly grateful to Scrivens for helping make this special garden possible."
Grace’s Friend Reflects
A close friend and fellow young leader continued: "Grace loved being part of Brownies and cared so much about all the girls. The garden gives us a lovely place to remember her and the special place she had in our Brownie group."
Brownies Share Their Feelings
The Brownies, aged seven to nine, described the garden as a special place to remember Grace and reflect on shared memories. Eliza said creating the garden showed "how much we all loved Grace", while Nora noted it would be nice to have somewhere to go to remember her. Freya explained it would be somewhere to "sit, think about Grace and talk about all the memories we have of her". Darcie described Grace as "kind, helpful and caring" and said the garden would help the girls think of her. Alice concluded that pink flowers would be especially lovely because "Grace loved pink".
