Football event brings staff and service users together

Service users from the Trust’s specialist mental health inpatient units in Wakefield were invited to join up with staff and take part in a football penalty shoot-out event.

With the 2014 World Cup having taken place earlier this summer, staff wanted to build on the enthusiasm people had shown for it by hosting their own event that would get people up and moving about, doing some gentle physical exercise in a social environment.

The event was also an opportunity for staff and service users to work together as teams in the competition – improving the therapeutic relationship as they worked together to reach the final of the competition.

The knockout event saw eight service users from the Trinity and Priory units compete in a quarter final by taking five penalties each. The winners then progressed onto a semi-final before reaching the final.

Held in the Trust’s Caring Garden a large crowd of staff, service users and carers cheered on the penalty takers.
In between matches the crowd also enjoyed a range of homemade cakes, buns and pizzas made by service users on the Trinity and Priory units.

Liam Gill is an activity facilitator on the units and helped to organise the tournament, he said: “The event was a huge success and everyone who came along really enjoyed the event. I want to give a special thank you to all of the service users, carers and staff who came along and helped make the event a day to remember.

It was great to see service users and staff come together, break down barriers and have some fun. We’re already planning a similar event for some time in the future and I can’t wait to do it all again.”

What did you enjoy about the event?

Service users who had taken part were asked for their feedback – and this is what some of them said:

“I enjoyed baking pizzas for the football shoot out. I also enjoyed trying a bit of pizza!”

“Had a fun day all the way through!”

“The goalposts were brilliant! I enjoyed saving goals wearing gloves. The buns were very nice too.”

“Should do it a lot more. A lot of stress relief and a great way to get people out!”