Tag Archive for: community focus

How Merry Maids Leicester Supports People Living With Dementia at Home

/by

Merry Maids Leicester is showing how their Alzheimer’s Society Dementia Awareness Training can help people living with dementia remain comfortable in a cleaner, safer and more familiar home environment.

Merry Maids Leicester a local domestic cleaning company recently supported a Leicester customer who held Power of Attorney, began looking for a cleaning company they could trust.

They needed more than a thorough clean. They wanted a patient and considerate team that would understand their friend’s circumstances, respect their home and provide reassurance to everyone involved.

Dementia-Aware Cleaning in Leicester

For someone living with dementia, changes in routine and unfamiliar visitors can sometimes feel unsettling. This makes the way a cleaning service is introduced and delivered especially important.

The Merry Maids Leicester team uses the Alzheimer’s Society Dementia Awareness Training to approach each visit with patience, respect and understanding. The cleaners take care to work calmly, communicate clearly and remain sensitive to the customer’s individual needs.

A professional cleaning service can help maintain a comfortable home without placing the full responsibility for household tasks on relatives, friends or carers.

It can also support people who need:

  • Regular help keeping their home clean and manageable.
  • A one-off deep clean before regular visits begin.
  • Short-term cleaning after a hospital stay or change in circumstances.
  • A dependable service arranged by a relative or someone with Power of Attorney.

Support Delivered With Dignity

After finding Merry Maids Leicester online, the customer felt reassured by the team’s Alzheimer’s Society Dementia Awareness Training.

During the initial clean, the cleaners took time to understand the situation and completed the work with care. Their aim was to improve the home environment while ensuring the customer felt respected and supported throughout the visit.

The customer were pleased with both the cleaning standard and the team’s compassionate approach. They left a five-star Google review:

“Great service, punctual and sympathetic to our situation helping a friend with dementia.”

Following the first visit, they invited Merry Maids Leicester back to provide regular domestic cleaning.

This ongoing arrangement gives the customer greater consistency while offering valuable peace of mind to the people helping manage their care.

Cleaning Support for Families Across Leicestershire

Every person living with dementia has different needs. Merry Maids Leicester therefore takes time to understand the household before recommending a suitable cleaning schedule.

The team provides regular and one-off domestic cleaning across Leicester, Loughborough, Lutterworth, Market Harborough, Melton Mowbray, Hinckley and surrounding Leicestershire communities.

Cleaners bring their own equipment and bespoke products, helping make each visit straightforward for the customer and their family.

Contact Merry Maids Leicester

To discuss dementia-aware domestic cleaning in Leicester or arrange a free, no-obligation quotation, contact the local team.

Call: 0116 275 9055

Email: leicester@merrymaids.co.uk

Visit: merrymaids.co.uk/leicester/

Merry Maids Leicester can work with you, your family or a person holding Power of Attorney to arrange thoughtful cleaning support around the needs of the person and their home.

 

Merry Maids Leicester Supporting Local Schools, One Clean at a Time with Thomas Estley Community College

/by

Merry Maids Leicester continues to show what it means to be a business with a heart that is committed to supporting their local community. This year, the team set out with a clear goal. Do more, give more, and create a real impact across the Leicestershire local community.

Their latest initiative brings that commitment to life through hands-on support for local education, helping create a better environment for young children to learn, play, and grow.

Strengthens Community Roots with Local School Initiative

Working closely with Thomas Estley Community College, the team volunteered their time, skills, and resources to refresh the school’s forest area ahead of the summer term.

The space, designed for pre-school children, plays a key role in early development. It encourages outdoor learning, physical activity, and imaginative play. After a full clean and tidy, the area is now ready to welcome children back.

The feedback from the school highlights the difference made:

“Many thanks to Merry Maids Leicester for volunteering their time, expertise and resources to spring clean our forest school area ready for the summer term. We are certain that our preschool age children will enjoy playing in this refreshed area and developing their physical skill and imagination. We look forward to working with Merry Maids Leicester again and are so thankful for their input into our Thomas Estley community.”

Trusted Cleaning with a Local Touch

For local residents, choosing Merry Maids Leicester means more than booking a clean. It means supporting a business that actively gives back to the same community it serves.

Customers can expect consistent, high standards with every visit. The team is trained, reliable, and focused on detail. Homes are cleaned with care, respect, and a clear understanding of what matters most to each household.

There is also peace of mind in knowing who is in your home. As a local business, the team builds real relationships with customers. That trust grows over time, supported by dependable service and strong communication.

The same approach seen in community projects is reflected in every clean. Thoughtful, thorough, and always delivered with care.

A Business Built on Care

For branch manager Rachel, projects like this are a natural extension of what the team stands for.

“We are proud to support our local community in ways that truly matter. Cleaning is what we do, but making a difference is why we do it. Seeing the forest school area ready for children to enjoy makes it all worthwhile. We care deeply about the spaces we clean, whether that is in our customers’ homes or within the wider community.”

Making a Lasting Impact

This initiative forms part of a wider focus for Merry Maids Leicester this year. The aim is clear. Build stronger local connections and support where it is needed most.

By working with schools and residents, the team continues to show that small actions can lead to meaningful change. A refreshed space today can support learning, wellbeing, and confidence tomorrow.

Merry Maids Leicester remains committed to supporting their community while delivering the same high standard of cleaning that customers rely on every day.

If you are looking for a trusted professional cleaner find out more by visit your local Merry Maids Leicester website today or call us on call on 0116 275 9055 or for a one-off clean, book online by clicking here.

 

Merry Maids Leicester Strengthens Community Commitment with Focus on Giving Back in 2026

/by

Merry Maids Leicester has announced a renewed focus for 2026, placing community support at the centre of its work across the local area.

Following the devastating impact of last year’s flooding in Leicester, the team stepped in to support local residents and schools during a difficult period. From helping families regain a sense of normality to supporting educational spaces affected by the damage, the business played an active role in the recovery effort.

This year, the focus has shifted towards building something longer lasting.

Supporting the Next Generation

As part of this commitment, Merry Maids Leicester has been working closely with Countesthorpe School to support students preparing to enter the working world.

The initiative includes:

  • Mock interviews to build confidence and communication skills
  • Practical business advice to help students understand real working environments
  • Guidance for those interested in starting their own ventures

This hands-on support gives students a clear view of what to expect beyond education, while helping them develop skills that will stay with them long term.

A Business with a Heart

For Merry Maids Leicester, this is about more than one-off initiatives. It reflects a wider approach to how the business operates day to day.

The team believes that being part of the community means showing up when it matters and contributing in ways that have a real impact. Whether that is supporting recovery after local challenges or helping young people take their first steps into employment, the aim is simple, to make a difference where it counts.

Rachel, Branch Manager at Merry Maids Leicester, said:
“We saw first-hand the impact the floods had on our local community last year, and we wanted to do more than just step in at the time. For us, it is about building ongoing support. Working with local students has been a big part of that. If we can help them feel more confident about their future or give them practical advice, that is something we are proud to be part of.”

She added:
“As a business, we care about people. That goes beyond cleaning. It is about showing up, supporting where we can, and making a positive difference in people’s lives every day.”

More Than Cleaning

While Merry Maids Leicester is known for delivering high-quality domestic cleaning services, its role goes beyond maintaining homes.

The same care and attention given to customers is reflected in its community work. Supporting people through challenging times, helping create safe and comfortable environments, and building trust sits at the core of everything they do.

This approach carries through to every clean. It is not just about the result, it is about the impact it has on people’s daily lives.

Looking Ahead

With a clear focus on giving back, Merry Maids Leicester plans to expand its community involvement throughout 2026. By continuing to work with local schools and supporting residents, the business aims to strengthen its role as a trusted and active part of the Leicester community.

For those looking for a cleaning service that values more than just the job at hand, Merry Maids Leicester offers a service built on care, consistency, and community impact.

To find out more visit your local Merry Maids Leicester team today or call us on call on 0116 275 9055 or for a one-off clean, book online by clicking here.

 

Merry Maids Croydon attends BFA HSBC British Franchise Awards

/by

Merry Maids of Croydon’s Debbie Walker achieved finalist status in the BFA HSBC British Franchise Awards.

The results are in for the prestigious BFA HSBC Great British Franchise Awards, held by the British Franchise Association at the end of their annual conference to recognise the best of British franchising, and were attended by some of our head office team and franchisees.

We are thrilled that we had a finalist, Debbie Walker from Merry Maids of Croydon, who was up for the Community Focus Award.

Community Focus

We’d like to congratulate Diljit Brar from Costa Coffee, who won the Community Focus Award.

The ServiceMaster team and Merry Maids UK network are incredibly proud of Debbie for beating out countless applicants to make it this far.

To be a finalist in such a competitive sector is no small feat and is a testament to her hard work, dedication and commitment to her brand and community. What she has achieved as a finalist is no small thing.

And Debbie has indeed achieved some impressive feats.

In the past year, she has taken on a Ukrainian refugee to enable her to stay in the UK, donated enough material during a food bank drive to feed multiple vulnerable families struggling with the cost of living over and beyond the Christmas period, and been paramount in the development of our nationwide Merry Maids Forget Me Knot Challenge, which raised over £4000 for Alzheimer’s Society and Dementia Friends.

Kind words

Commenting on the awards, Debbie said:

“I was absolutely delighted to be alongside some other great franchisees as a finalist for the Community Focus award.

We work hard every day to make our business count in the local community and give back to the people who we serve, so this recognition means a great deal to us.

Pip Wilkins, Chief Executive of the BFA, said:

“Our huge congratulations to all the winners tonight. We had some fantastic entries this year and these winners really stood out from the crowd. We would like to thank them for being such great ambassadors of the BFA and for representing the very best in UK franchising.”

Judge, awards host and UK Head of Franchise, Commercial Banking at sponsors HSBC Bank Gillian Morris said:

“The diversity of franchising on display at tonight’s awards ceremony – across so many brands and sectors – demonstrates the strength and reach of the industry.  Choosing a winner is never easy and I’d like to join Pip in thanking everyone who entered and sending our warm congratulations to all the winners on these very well-deserved awards.”

Need a new cleaner?

If you are local to the Croydon area, contact Debbie and the rest of the Merry Maids of Croydon team today by calling 020 8663 3268.

If you would benefit from regular or one-off cleaning services from one of our teams across the UK, contact your local cleaning experts today by finding your nearest Merry Maids business or book online through our online shop.

Merry Maids Croydon are finalists in prestigious franchise awards for Community Focus

/by

Croydon-based businesswoman Debbie Walker, owner of Merry Maids of Croydon, has made it to the finals of the prestigious 2023 BFA HSBC British Franchise Awards.

Founded in 1977, the British Franchise Association (BFA) is a self-regulating governing body, formed to accredit and promote franchise systems that meet strict ethical and business criteria.

Fighting for her position amongst many other entrants, Debbie Walker is a finalist in the ‘Community Focus’ category.

Debbie Walker bought Merry Maids of Croydon in 2003 after working in sales and marketing for several companies.

Merry Maids of Croydon is service-oriented, but their work has a keen care element.

They see many customers regularly, often going above and beyond the call of duty to ensure that they are safe, well, and have someone to talk to, allowing the maids to develop strong relationships with many.

As such, Debbie and her team are deeply enmeshed in their local community.

To Merry Maids of Croydon, bettering a customer’s quality of life involves more than just a clean environment.

Even though the business is not a care franchise, per se, Debbie is proud to run a business that cares.

One that she calls a business with a heart.

Debbie’s work within her community

In the past year, she has taken on a Ukrainian refugee to enable her to stay in the UK, donated enough material during a food bank drive to feed multiple vulnerable families struggling with the cost of living over and beyond the Christmas period, and been paramount in the development of the ongoing nationwide Merry Maids Forget Me Knot Challenge, which has raised over £1300 for Alzheimer’s Society and Dementia Friends in just six weeks.

Kind words

Commenting on the announcement, Debbie said:

“I’m absolutely delighted to be alongside some other great franchisees as a finalist for the Community Focus award.

We work hard every day to make our business count in the local community and give back to the people who we serve, so this recognition means a great deal to us.

Everyone here is so excited for the event and really looking forward to celebrating with all the other finalists soon!”

Pip Wilkins, Chief Executive of the BFA, said:

“We would like to offer our enormous congratulations to all this year’s finalists. We received a huge amount of entries, and it was wonderful to read of all the amazing work being done in the UK franchising sector. We applaud our finalists for their enthusiasm, dedication and tenacity and for continuing to uphold the highest standards of the association.”

UK Head of Franchise, Commercial Banking at sponsors HSBC Bank Gillian Morris said:

“Shortlisting candidates for the HSBC bfa Awards is one of the toughest challenges of the year, once more the candidates were a very high standard, and it was very tough to shortlist just a few entries. I was really impressed at the diversity of entries across brands and sectors, which is a great testament of the strength and reach of the franchise industry. I am looking forward to meeting the finalists and wish them all luck!”

Winners will be announced at a gala black-tie event following the BFA’s annual conference on 9th November 2023.

Need a new cleaner?

If you are local to the Croydon area, contact Debbie and the rest of the Merry Maids of Croydon team today by calling 020 8663 3268.

And if you would benefit from regular or one-off cleaning services from one of our teams across the UK, contact your local cleaning experts today by finding your nearest Merry Maids business or book online through our online shop.