Mad Hatter’s Tea Party Unites Community and Supported Living Services

Coachman’s Drive, a supported living service for people with complex special needs in Croxteth Country Park, hosted a Mad Hatter’s Tea Party, which brought together our staff and the people we support from other nearby services, neighbours from the Park, as well as the local community police.

Coachman’s Drive, on Croxteth Country Park in Merseyside, is home to two people with complex disabilities.

The Mad Hatter’s Tea Party provided an opportunity for the people we support at Coachman’s Drive and four of our other nearby supported living services, to make new friendships (and renew old ones), get to know other staff members and the local community in a relaxing afternoon at Coachman’s newly renovated garden.

Staff members and the people we support all dressed up for the occasion and baked all of the party treats – from three-tier cakes to home-made bread and buns. Neighbours from the park came along to say hello and the special guests of the day were Liverpool’s Community Police team. The afternoon also helped strengthen professional networks across the Merseyside cluster of our health care services, developing new partnerships and collaborative working within the community.

Paula Young, Merseyside Service Leader, said: “One of the best ways to support people is to help them make new friends or renew old friendships, make them feel part of the local community, and ensure they feel safe by getting to know staff from other services who may support them in the future. It is really important to develop good working relationships across our services and with the local community. Coming together for the Mad Hatter’s Tea Party made the staff and people we support feel part of the community and we couldn’t wipe the smiles off their faces for days!”