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Cheers M’ Dears – toasting friendship at Banbury’s Community Support Service
13/06/2023
“we’ve created a safe and inclusive space where everyone can relax and have fun”
A genuine pub environment including a working bar, pool table and juke box has been created at Oxfordshire County Council’s Community Support Service (CSS) offices in Neithrop.
Its hoped the space will help service users, including those with learning disabilities, mental health concerns and people living with dementia
The pub facility has been designed by a group of service’s regular users, who’ve named it “Cheers M’ Dears”. The project has been funded by donations from the local community and money from the Friends of Redlands charity.
The pub room will be used as a social space for members of the support service as well as being available to hire by community groups in the area.
Jennifer Farrell, Manager of Banbury CSS, said: “We’re always looking for innovative ways to deliver social care, putting the people we support at the heart of what we do.
“Our members have told us that they can sometimes feel uncomfortable in a pub environment and that they really miss the sociable atmosphere that comes with it. At Cheers M’ Dears, we’ve created a safe and inclusive space where everyone can relax and have fun.”
As well as enjoying the social setting, people who use Banbury CSS will train to work behind the bar and its hoped that this could lead to opportunities to work in hospitality in the future.
Jennifer added: “We support a range of different people, including those with learning disabilities, mental health concerns and people living with dementia. Our pub room will give them the chance to gain experience in the service industry without being judged, potentially paving a way for them to gain meaningful employment in the future.”
The regulars have already had an afternoon’s tasting session, making sure the non-alcohol drinks and snacks are of the highest quality. While alcohol will not be available during day when the support service is being used, the hub does hold a licence for alcohol to be consumed, so anyone looking to hire out the venue will have access to a traditional pub experience.
All profits from the bar will go back to the Friends of Redlands charity, which was set up more than thirty years ago to support Banbury CSS.
Published: by Banbury FM Newsteam