Mark designs costume for Christmas party

Posted 20/01/2025

A young man supported by Thera South West worked with his staff team to design a costume which allowed him to perform at a community event.

Mark is a young man supported by Thera South West. He shares his home with three other young individuals and has worked to build meaningful relationships with them and people within the wider community. With the support of his staff teams at Thera South West he has designed a costume to attend a community Christmas party.

Mark volunteers for a local organisation called Turning Tides where he works in a cafe and also does some gardening work. He is developing skills that he hopes will one day lead to paid employment. On top of these commitments Mark is a musician and plays guitar in a local band. Through music he develops confidence, builds social skills, and explores his local community.

Recently, Mark was invited to a Christmas celebration event in Crediton which he was asked to make a costume for it and the costume had a Thunderbirds theme. Mark and his staff team were at a bit of a loss at first but quickly worked together to make a cost effective costume. All of his staff team got involved, taking over from one another with changes in shifts, to ensure his costume was ready and he was able to attend.

Project Manager Leandra Sims explains why stories like this are such a fundamental part of support work, but one which may go overlooked:

Mark’s staff team used their individual knowledge and skillsets to help to create a wonderful moment and memory for Mark. It’s the day to day things like this that people don’t think of when they think of support work that really helps people lead happier lives. A couple of staff members were worried about not making it good enough but they were all thrilled with the final result. It’s amazing what positivity can do. It doesn’t seem like the biggest story but at its heart this is exactly why the support Thera South West provides is so special. It’s making the best and putting your best foot forward to ensure the people we support build memories, access their communities, and have as many happy moments as possible.

Find out more about the ways Thera South West can support you or your loved one here