Express Yourself!
- By Matt Hull
- •
- 20 Jul, 2018
Summer open day - Expressive art and Hate + Mate crime workshop
We held the event at our offices, where we had two rooms set up to cater for the day. The main room comprised of tables for the clients, where they could draw and colour, along with plenty of food on the buffet. This room was also used for the second half of the afternoon to hold the Hate and Mate crime workshop. In the second room we held the Art Workshop, which was taken by one of our fantastic members of staff who has a passion for art. He built and set up a spin art exercise, which everyone loved! Along with portrait drawings and wire sculptures being made! It was great to see everyone get involved with the art and have such a fantastic time. We also put up a chalk board wall in our office, and encouraged anyone to contribute to the wall with anything they wanted to, Express yourself!
The second part of the afternoon, we held the Hate and Mate crime workshop - hosted and performed by Sarah and her assistants from the Brandon Trust with Bristol Hate Crime and Discrimination services. there was a strong level of interest in the workshop from our clients, and a lot of audience participation. One particular client of ours who attended the afternoon, likes to wear woman's clothes, and he expressed that this had resulted in him being a victim of Hate crime in the past. He was a very vocal member of the group, which was excellent to see and for him to open up about issues he has faced.
Overall, the summer open day was a success! Everyone enjoyed themselves, as reflected in our client feedback: 100% of respondents said they enjoyed the afternoon. When asked what they liked and disliked about the event, some responses included: "loved the play about hate crime nothing to dislike loved it all really enjoyed all activities" "I liked The work shop on bullying, workshop, relationships, examples on what happens and is classed as hate crime" "It was good informative interesting and fun Nothing I didn't like".
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My name is Kanika Akinshegun.
I started at Manor Community In Jan 2025 as a HR & Recruitment Co-ordinator. I have been in recruitment for over 5 years, and I really enjoy engaging with people and helping them to make their next career choice. Often the candidate experience shapes the way a company is perceived, and I always work hard to ensure the first experience someone gets is a positive one. My aim at Manor Community is to ensure we employ the best people for our services, where caring comes naturally to them, in turn making the best experience for our clients.
Going forward I plan on working towards attending relevant recruitment events, with amazing merchandise, ensuring the recruitment is streamlined, cost effective and we plan to ensure we have the right people in place at the right time!
Outside of recruitment I have an 8-year-old son, and a cat called Sonic. I love art and paint on canvases using oil paints as a way of relaxing. I love working out and enjoy making up new workout routines to release those endorphins.
The best kind of recruitment is word of mouth so if you know anyone you can refer to me, please let me know!
Today, our residents were in for a special treat when a little puppy named Teddy paid us a visit! With his soft fur, big eyes, and wagging tail, Teddy quickly won the hearts of everyone in the room, bringing a wave of joy and comfort to our residents.
For many of our residents, it’s been a while since they’ve had the company of a furry friend, and Teddy’s playful energy was a breath of fresh air. As he trotted around, curious and excited, many of our residents couldn't help but smile and reach out to pet him. The simple act of stroking his soft fur seemed to lift their spirits and spark memories of their own beloved pets from years ago.
What seems like an age ago now I first got interested in working in the social care sector working with adults with learning difficulties in the land-based industry. Right from the start I could see the benefits this sector has mainly, obviously to the individuals using a service – improving knowledge, confidence and having a purpose to get up for. After many courses/qualifications and throughout the decades I pursued this sector, again working with adults and young people in different settings including residential and supported living, not only in the land-based sector but supporting people in their communities.
Fast track to the present day and Manor Community. I have been working for Manor for roughly seven years, with a slight hiatus after four years, believe me the grass isn’t always greener. Today my passion for helping people with learning difficulties and mental health issues remains the same, albeit there have been some knocks and falls but after self-reflection and kind words of encouragement you get up and carry on.
Presently at Manor I have progressed through the ranks as a senior. I was thrilled to get the role as it shows that I’m valued within the company. No two days of my working week are the same, I could be completing audits or assisting colleagues with their work one day, to supporting individuals for appointments and social scenarios or pulling my hair out trying to get through bureaucratic (external agencies) red tape ensuring individuals are treated as equals. Occasionally I go home frustrated, but more often I go home satisfied I have made a positive difference to someone’s day.
Continuing our feedback series, we are delighted to shine a well-deserved spotlight on the incredible care workers who make Manor a truly special place. At Manor, we believe that every member of our team plays a vital role in creating a supportive and nurturing environment for our residents. Our care workers are at the heart of this effort, working tirelessly day and night with unwavering dedication, compassion, and skill. They go beyond just providing care—they build relationships, offer comfort, and ensure that each resident feels valued, respected, and safe. Their efforts create a warm and welcoming atmosphere where families can feel at ease, knowing their loved ones are in the best possible hands.
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Manor Community is a trading company of Improving Prospects Limited registered number 06851740