The Camden Society held their Being Heard Summer Party at Burwell Hall in Witney on Friday 8 August. Organised by Caroline and her Witney staff team, the event is a cornerstone of The Camden Society’s calendar and welcomes guests from across Oxfordshire, including Oxford City, as well as the wider regions that The Camden Society supports.
Luckily, the weather was beautiful! Outside on the grass there were games including an egg and spoon race to light some competitive fires and bring everyone together. Being Heard is all about bringing people together to embrace a sense of community and build relationships and the Summer Party is the prime example of this. Executive Assistant Jay explains:
We organise this event to bring people together and enjoy each other’s company. The people we support don’t always get the opportunity to catch up with each other so we provide this space as an opportunity to socialise. The event was open to everybody that The Camden Society supports and was very successful. We had lots of people turn up.
Inside the venue, we had a local company cater the event to rave reviews! They offered everything from sausage rolls and sandwiches to prawn vol-au-vents and cakes. After lunch there was music and games – with a DJ leading the group through musical statues. People went crazy for the prizes.
The event was particularly special because of the co-production and collaboration involved. People supported helped to host the event, serving drinks and judging games and ensuring everyone had a wonderful time. This community was allowed by Terry’s Fund – a legacy from a beloved individual The Camden Society supported and who wanted to ensure that others with lived experience could continue to celebrate life together.
The event would not have been half as successful without our wonderful staff team to help organise it. Support Worker Marcia ensured people from Oxford could attend by reorganising their own Coffee Morning, and other staff members such as Jennifer, Caroline, and the Witney team, worked tirelessly to ensure the day was everything the people we support deserve.
The Camden Society believes that one of the keys to providing top tier support is encouraging community access and the building of relationships. This event allowed us to help bring people together for a fun, social activity that continues to foster the community spirit we are so passionate about developing. Ben explains:
This summer event is important because it encourages social interaction and helps people to make friends.
If you think you or your loved one could benefit from the person-centred community focused support The Camden Society offers, please visit us at www.thera.co.uk/about/companies/the-camden-society.