Cygnet Heathers, a 20-bed neuropsychiatric hospital for men with mental health difficulties and acquired brain injuries, recently hosted a bake sale that raised £180 for Epilepsy Society.
The charity focuses on transforming lives for those with epilepsy through research, advocacy and care.
Staff were inspired by individuals supported at the Cygnet Health Care service to fundraise for Epilepsy Society.
“A lot of service users have epilepsy and our staff also have family members with epilepsy. It’s a cause close to our hearts,” explained Laura Sykes, a Nurse at Cygnet Heathers.
“For these individuals, epilepsy impacts their day-to-day functioning and is a big part of their lives. We wanted them to feel valued and recognised so that’s why we fundraised for the charity.”
The sweet treats were made by Chef Carol Williams while the service users decorated the hospital with purple decorations – a colour associated with Epilepsy Society.
To keep donations rolling in, individuals supported at the Cygnet Health Care service doled out raffle tickets for attendees to win tasty prizes.
Laura said: “The whole team and service users announced the total we raised with a drumroll – we were shocked. This is the most we have ever fundraised so the atmosphere was amazing. Everyone at Cygnet Heathers is proud of our achievement.
“It was a great opportunity for our service users to work together with other peers and build on their communication skills. It makes them feel empowered, involved and considered. This fundraiser has motivated us to continue our charitable efforts in the near future.”