After a tough 18 months for all due to the pandemic, everybody at the service has spent the last few weeks working hard to prepare for the big day. Mandy and Emma, Activity Coordinators, worked tirelessly (sometimes outside of their working hours!) making things such as sign posts, flower arrangements and personalised items to make the day a success.
Each individual had their own festival bag which had been decorated by the service users in craft sessions. Within the bag they had tie dye t-shirts they had each designed, as well as VIP lanyards, voucher booklets for the day, drinks, glow sticks and their own drinking cup.
On the day a family member donated the use of their speakers/equipment for the music, and Cygnet Aspen House’s very own Marc Moran went back in time to before he was a nurse to relive his DJ career. There were music sets for festival classics, cheesy pop, 90s, rock and roll and dance and trance. All the festival fun games such as tin-can alley, hook a duck, festival make up, and shoot a hoop happened throughout the day as well as a music quiz and a tombola.
‘Share’ kindly attended to offer festival nails to all the service users. Share usually visit the ladies to offer beauty treatments and were very pleased to be a part of the day.
Dance group ‘So Burlesque’ run by Nic Palmer came onsite to offer the ladies a showcase, where everyone got the opportunity to learn some moves on the dance floor as well as watch them perform two dance routines. Nic teaches a variety of dance classes and the service users loved having her back.
Smile Ponies also visited during the afternoon, where the service users and staff got to enjoy some pet therapy. Leo the pony was a very welcomed guest.
The kitchen staff really pulled it out of the bag to offer an amazing selection of festival street food including, Asian, Indian, Mexican and Italian options.
The day would not have been possible without the hard work and vision from the Therapy Team and all the help and support from the staff team at Cygnet Aspen House. Thank you to Share, Nic and Smile Ponies for supporting. The hay bales used for the festival will be getting donated to Thornberry Animal Sanctuary for their small animals.
