The concept of the Social Hub project is to create environments which promote wellbeing and support recovery. This has been the ‘brain child’ and passion project of our Cygnet’s Expert by Experience Lead Raf Hamaizia with support from his wonderful team of expert by experiences who support each site.
The overall aim of the social hubs is to improve engagement between patients, as well as staff and patients in a relaxed and fun environment. Social hubs typically include items including TVs, immersive sound systems, Playstation, inspirational artwork, comic figurines & posters, arcade machines, board games, bean bags and adjustable sensory lighting.
Raf said: “We say nurses and support workers should take more accountability for meaningful activity and engagement, that it shouldn’t all fall on occupational therapists … that we need to do more on evenings and weekends… but as a sector we have to give them something to work with!”
The idea is that the social hubs offer a non-clinical, homely space for service users to relax and engage in fun activities and peer support sessions, giving them a safe space away from the wards.
After the successful installation of the first Social Hub at Cygnet Hospital Bierley there have been further Social Hubs introduced at Cygnet Churchill, Cygnet Storthfield House and Cygnet Hospital Woking, to name just a few.
This time though there was the additional challenge of installing two Social Hubs in one day. Raf, helped by Joe Morgan, Activities Coordinator, led on the Social Hub at Cygnet Delfryn Lodge. Javaid Razzaq, Service User Involvement Lead at Cygnet Hospital Bierley, who has been involved in the Social Hub project from the beginning, led on the installation of the Social Hub at Cygnet Delfryn House.
On the challenge of completing two Social Hubs in one day, Raf said: “Service users and staff were so excited all day, at first some thought it could not be achieved by the end of the day, but with everyone coming together we made it happen.
“A special thanks to Javaid Razzaq and our amazing estates team here who really went above and beyond with the prepping and supporting today. They were just as excited as the service users and that is a nice experience to share.”
The feedback from the service users since has been really positive.
Joe said: “The ladies at Cygnet Delfryn Lodge absolutely love the look of their new Social Hub and they have said it is just the pick me up they needed.”
Nikki Martin, Therapy Coordinator at Cygnet Delfryn House, said: “A lot of the patients like the retro style of the arcade games, saying that they remind them of their youth and everyone is pleased with the colour scheme. Everyone really likes the wall lights and lights which go around the ceilings. A few of the patients have already stated that they would like to hold FIFA tournament’s on the PS5 console. All in all it has gone down a blast.”