The Monday Madness club

When local authority funding cuts brought an end to day services for some people in Hampshire, the team at our Hampshire care home wanted to find a solution for the people who were now missing a huge part of their lives and routine.

Philippa attended the same day service for more than 20 years and it suddenly came to an end. Like many other people, she was losing part of her routine, her independence and the friendships and connections she’d built over the years.

The team were determined to do something to fill this gap. What started as a light-hearted conversation soon became reality, “We should make our own day centre.”

The team found a local working men’s club where they could hire a hall for £40 a week. Every Monday, everyone who lives there now head for a day full of laughter and fun which they decided to call The Monday Madness Club.

The day includes activities chosen by the people attending, from bingo and arts and crafts to karaoke, music and dancing. Everyone eats lunch together and at the end of each session they vote on what they would like to do the following week.

The most special part is that the club has been created entirely around the people who live there. Rather than attending a day service designed for a wide range of people, they take part in activities that reflect their own interests. Staff know them well, understand what they enjoy and listen to their ideas.

The Monday Madness Club has also encouraged people to try something new. Some people who would never have chosen to attend a day service before have joined in every week, enjoying the comfort and confidence that comes with being around familiar faces.

For Philippa, who had lost both her day service and the friendships that came with it, the club has been a lifeline. She quickly became one of the stars of the dance floor and was thrilled to win a chocolate bar during bingo.

What started as a way to fill a gap after the closure of a day service has quickly become something everyone looks forward to each week. It’s a place to catch up with friends, try new things, have a laugh and spend time doing things they enjoy. It’s Living My Life in action – recognising what matters to people and finding a way to make it happen.