Our big picnic was a big success for the people we support!

Every day the people we support, and our support colleagues, achieve amazing things. Engaging in exciting activities and pursuing incredible opportunities, they ensure each day is vibrant and meaningful.

To continue inspiring their activities, we host an annual initiative for our colleagues and housemates to expand their horizons with new, creative projects! From baking delicious treats, to crafting Easter wreaths and Christmas decorations from household items, there’s something for everyone to get stuck into.

This year, we welcomed one of our most exciting activities yet – The Big Voyage Care Picnic! Our Big Picnic was held in June, in honour of National Picnic Week. The week aims to develop awareness around the importance of sharing meals, and enjoying time in nature, for greater connection with loved ones and improved wellbeing.

An impressive 23 services took part in our picnic and hosted their own feasts in a variety of places – and with lots of creative themes. For everyone who participated, our Big Picnic was a big success, bringing smiles and unforgettable memories to all involved.

Cakes and cuddles

Located in a quiet suburb of Wakefield, our specialist day service Barnsley Road Outreach and Community Services (BROCS) identified an opportunity to embrace a unique theme for their picnic. Guided by the preferences of the people we support, and brought to life by our creative colleagues, they held an enchanting teddy bears picnic.

Using person-centred support, our colleagues at BROCS noticed many of the people we support enjoyed cuddling soft toys when taking part in sensory sessions or spending time reading. So, when it was time to plan their picnic, support colleague Becky suggested the people we support could bring their favourite soft toys along and have a teddy bears picnic.

Reflecting on the joy the teddys’ picnic presence brought to the people we support, Becky said: “the people we support all brought their favourite soft toy along to BROCS for the day. They enjoyed showing them off to the wider support team. We had marquee set up within our service grounds, where we held our teddy bears picnic.”

Our team at BROCS have a dedicated creative committee, who decorated the marquee. They paid attention to the finer details, making the occasion extra special with a handmade, personalised placemat for everyone who came along to the picnic.

For refreshments, the team prepared an afternoon tea, including sandwiches, sausage rolls, pork pies, and cream and jam scones.

“The people we support enjoyed their picky bits and playing garden games – bingo was a big hit! Our own music-man, Steve, provided special entertainment. Parents, family, colleagues and the people we support all got up to have a dance and everyone had a brilliant time,” Hannah, Team Leader at BROCS told us.

Cake and cuddles were enjoyed by the people we support as they embraced the opportunity to interact with each other, their favourite fuzzy friends, and their loved ones. BROCS nurtures a deeply family-oriented culture, with each of our committed colleagues delivering compassionate, empathetic support.

Homemade community

At Churchfield Avenue, our support colleagues work hard to deliver great care and support to our housemates every day. Nurturing a warm, homely environment, they ensure everyone is happy and comfortable in their surroundings. So, when it was time to organise their Big Picnic, hosting a home-based picnic was the perfect choice!

Picking a sunny spot in their garden, the people we support and our colleagues at Churchfield Avenue collaborated to plan and prepare refreshments and activities for the event. Getting the people we support involved in all aspects of decision making and preparations is important for their independence.

Reflecting on the day, Service Manager Lucy told us: “We got together as a household and decided what we wanted to eat. One of the people we support made a cake from scratch, and a colleague made some delicious, fresh cordial. They had a wonderful time, planning and organising, and shaping the day into something tailored to their tastes and preferences.”

The people we support enjoyed a homemade lunch, with all their favourite foods. After tucking into their tasty treats, they played some fun, interactive games, including giant snakes and ladders.

Our support colleagues at Churchfield Avenue have fostered a positive community within their household. Together, the people we support, and their support team share lots of smile and laughs and make the most of each moment – even when things go wrong!

Lucy told us: “we shared lots of laughs during the picnic – especially when our umbrella fell over and broke. The people we support have a positive outlook on life, so they thought this was hilarious!”

Churchfield Avenue pride themselves on maintaining an active lifestyle, using person-centred support to seek out meaningful opportunities for the people we support. Following on from the picnic, they have lots of exciting activities to look forward to.

“We always have many plans. This year, we’ve already had four birthdays, a sports day and some seaside trips. Coming up, we’re hosting our own carnival, pursuing a holiday and more seaside day trips. In between that, we’re happy to venture out into the local community and enjoy whatever our city of Cambridge has to offer!”