A day of joy at Bradbury Court’s Garden Party

Posted on 20 June 2025

The garden at Bradbury Court, one of our West Sussex-based learning disability support services, came alive last week with laughter, creativity, and community spirit, as we hosted our much-loved summer garden party for clients, staff, families, and friends from across our services.

Of course, there was lovely tea and cake, but what made it special was the sense of togetherness, a joyful celebration of the people we support, their talents, and the strong relationships that make our services so special. The day was packed with sunshine, smiles, and beautiful art and craft pieces created by clients, many of which were sold to raise funds for the service.

Service Manager, Avril, says, “It is so important for our clients to feel part of a community, be accepted and understood, which is why we host these events that bring family, friends, and members of the public to our service, showcasing how wonderful the service is and also showing everybody how talented our clients are!”

The theme of art activities was Frida Kahlo, chosen to spark creativity and encourage self-expression. From papier-mâché sculptures and painted pebbles to handmade cards, the display of work offered a glimpse into the talents of the people we support. 
 

Activities Coordinator Dee Walkden explained: “We planned different arts and crafts sessions over the past few weeks, all inspired by Frida Kahlo. Clients really engaged with it, and they love knowing other people will visit and see their work. It makes them feel recognised and included.”

Liam Geal, one of our clients and a keen painter, proudly exhibited a colourful portrait of Frida Kahlo.

Liam’s aunt, Julie Geal, shared how meaningful the event was for both him and the wider family: “It’s great to have events like these that bring everyone together and showcase what they’ve been doing. It helps them feel included, which is so lovely!”

Visitors and family members came from near and far to join in. Jayne Phillips, whose daughter Francesca is supported at Bradbury Court, even volunteered to help run the cake stall: “We love coming here to support the team. The staff are brilliant. Francesca loves music and enjoys events, though she needs her space when things get busy,  and the staff always support her so well.”

“We were here for the Christmas party too and helped cook Christmas dinner!”

There was also a popular raffle with fantastic prizes, and plenty of tea, chatter and cake to go around. Sophie, a guest at the party, said: “I’m so pleased to be here. The work the Bradbury Court team does is amazing. The clients’ artwork is so impressive, and it’s just lovely to see everyone come together like this.”

For long-time support worker AJ, who has been with Southdown for ten years, the event is one of the highlights of the year: “This is like a celebration. Clients look forward to it, and seeing them happy makes me happy too. I love when they bring over their family members to meet me, it shows how much they value our connection.”

Thank you to everyone who joined, contributed, or helped run this special event, and to our brilliant clients whose talents continue to inspire us all. 

Enjoy the snippets from the party: