Janet and Jerry: Getting Involved in the North Lancing Scarecrow Festival

At the heart of good care is helping people continue to enjoy the things they love, pursue their interests and stay connected with their local community. For Janet, this meant getting creative and taking part in a wonderful local tradition, the North Lancing Scarecrow Festival.

Janet has always enjoyed being creative. She loves sewing and knitting, and during the warmer months she enjoys pottering around her garden, keeping it neat and tidy. So, when the opportunity came to create a scarecrow for the local festival, it was the perfect activity for her.

With the support of our carers, Janet began planning her scarecrow. The team spent some time looking at ideas together and even watched YouTube videos for inspiration. There were lots of different designs to consider, but Janet soon had her own ideas about how she wanted her scarecrow to look.

Janet chose a shirt and pair of trousers for him, helping to create his outfit and decide on his appearance. With some creativity, teamwork and plenty of enthusiasm, the scarecrow began to take shape.

And what better name for him than Jerry!

Janet's carers worked alongside her throughout the project, helping with the practical elements while making sure Janet could be involved in the decisions and enjoy the experience.

For Janet, taking part in the festival was about much more than making a scarecrow. It was an opportunity to get involved with something happening within her local community.

Janet has called Lancing home since 1969, having moved there with her late husband and their two children. Over the years, she has built a life full of family, interests and community connections. Her church is particularly important to her, and she attends every Sunday.

Being able to participate in a local event such as the Lancing Scarecrow Festival gives Janet another opportunity to feel connected to the community and the place she has called home for so many years.

Activities like this are a wonderful example of person-centred care. Janet's carers didn't simply make a scarecrow for her. They worked alongside her, encouraging her ideas and helping her turn them into reality.

From researching inspiration and choosing Jerry's outfit to putting him together, Janet was able to be involved throughout the project.

Whether she is sewing, knitting, gardening, going for a walk, watching the birds in her garden or taking part in a local event, supporting Janet's interests helps her continue to enjoy the things that are important to her

We believe care is about more than supporting day-to-day needs. It is about helping people live fulfilling lives, maintain their interests and remain connected to the communities they are part of.

Janet's scarecrow project is a lovely example of this. With encouragement and support from her carers, an idea became a fun and meaningful project, giving Janet the opportunity to be creative while getting involved in a much-loved local event.

We're incredibly proud of Janet and our carers for taking part and bringing a little creativity to the Lancing community.

North Lancing Scarecrow Festival: 1st–30th September