Seasons Greetings! Wishing all our wonderful colleagues & the people we support a joyful holiday season filled with peace, love, and happiness. Thank you for your continued support this year! We’re also excited to share our winning festive design, thank you to all who shared their creative designs.

This month, our Supported Employment team reimagined a festive classic—Jingle Bells—to highlight what supported employment is all about: - Building confidence - Opening doors - Creating opportunities for everyone

This December, our Community Lives team hosted festive lunches at our Boyn Grove dementia day service, and what a celebration it was! With singing, a traditional Christmas dinner and gifts for everyone generously donated by FM Voyager. It was a day full of music, laughter, and festive cheer.

Festive Magic at Boyn Grove Community Lives! The team truly brought the season to life with a wonderful festive trail, complete with a special visit from Mr & Mrs Claus and a beautifully handcrafted gift from the tree. Thank you to everyone who joined in the fun and made this celebration so special!

A huge thank you to everyone who joined us and made our Carol event so special! It was wonderful to see so many people come together to celebrate the season in such a joyful way. The event was filled with warmth and music, and we loved every moment! Tell us your favourite part in the comments!

Our Year in Review is Live This year, we’ve strengthened our foundations, expanded services, and invested in quality and innovation, helping people live well and enjoy the things that matter. Discover the highlights www.optalis.org/news/optalis...

A huge shoutout to Focussed Friends, a group from Optalis Wokingham Community Lives. They raised £256 with a bake sale and collected 2,068 nappies (plus hand-knitted blankets!) for BIBS – Babies in Buscot Support. www.optalis.org/news/focusse...

Our Ability Catering team kicked off a busy festive season at the Railways 200 celebration at Windsor & Eton Riverside Station's 166th Birthday. The team supported the event, serving warming drinks and homemade festive treats including mince pies and our tasty shortbread.

What a night! Our Winter Party was planned by a dedicated committee of team members and people we support, and it was a real success. With festive music, tasty food, and plenty of dancing, the event brought everyone together to celebrate the season.

Day 12: We think you’ll like us so much, you’ll want to recommend us to your friends and family via our Refer a Friend programme. #ReferAFriend #CareJobs #12DaysOfBenefits www.optalis.org/jobs

Day 11: Celebrate your special day your way! Enjoy an extra day off on your birthday – because you deserve it. Tomorrow’s final perk is all about sharing the joy – check back! #BirthdayLeave #CareCareers Apply now at optalis.org/jobs

Day 10: We listen, through staff forums, surveys, and union partnerships. Your ideas shape how we work. Tomorrow’s perk is all about celebrating YOU – don’t miss it! #StaffVoice #CareJobs

Love perks and discounts? Apply now and start enjoying the benefits at optalis.org/jobs Tomorrow we talk about YOUR voice – stay tuned! #Perks #EmployeeBenefits #12DaysOfBenefits

The Christmas Grotto Garden Trail is coming to Boyn Grove Community Centre! Thurs 18 Dec - 5:30PM – 7:30PM Explore our sensory garden filled with festive lights, music, food & drink, and meet Father Christmas! Tickets: £8 per person visiting Father Christmas Parents & Carers entry FREE 01628 685733

Day 8: Your wellbeing matters – enjoy a wellbeing day, EAP support, and mental health initiatives. Tomorrow’s benefit brings extra savings – check back! #Wellbeing #CareCareers

Day 7: We celebrate YOU! From STAR celebrations to long-service recognition – your efforts never go unnoticed.” Tomorrow’s perk is all about wellbeing – don’t miss it! www.optalis.org/join-our-tal... #Recognition #CareJobs

Day 6: Grow your skills with ongoing training, apprenticeships, and career progression opportunities. Tomorrow’s benefit celebrates YOU – stay tuned! #CareerGrowth #CareCareers

Day 5: Peace of mind for you and your loved ones with life assurance worth 3x your annual salary. Tomorrow we focus on growth – check back for details! #LifeAssurance #CareJobs

Day 4: Plan ahead with our pension scheme and salary sacrifice options, we’ll match up to 6%. Tomorrow’s perk gives you peace of mind – don’t miss it! #FutureReady #CareCareers

Day 3: Flexibility that works for YOU! Balance work and life with patterns that fit around your commitments. Tomorrow’s benefit is all about planning for the future, stay tuned! #FlexibleWorking #CareJobs

Our Carol Concert group have been working hard over the past few weeks choosing the perfect songs to selecting special readings and adding those magical finishing touches, to plan a festive feel-good event for all to enjoy. We'll share some of the highlights later this month.

Day 2 is here! Enjoy 25 days annual leave (plus bank holidays) – rising to 30 days the longer you stay. More time for what matters most. Don’t miss tomorrow’s reveal – another reason to join our team! www.optalis.org/join-our-tal... #WorkLifeBalance #CareCareers

Join us for the Christmas Grotto Garden Trail at Boyn Grove Community Centre. Thurs 18 Dec - 5:30PM – 7:30PM Enjoy our accessible sensory garden filled with festive lights, music, food & drink, and a special visit to Father Christmas! £8 per person visiting Father Christmas Book: 01628 685733

Welcome to our festive benefits countdown – like an advent calendar, but for your career! Day 1 brings you competitive pay and enhanced weekend rates. Your hard work deserves recognition!” Check back tomorrow for another amazing perk www.optalis.org/jobs #12DaysOfBenefits #CareJobs #RewardingCareer

This month, we’re celebrating Jo for her incredible compassion and dedication. Jo recently supported someone through a very challenging time, going above and beyond to make sure they felt supported. #TeamOptalis #ComplimentOfTheMonth #FeelGoodFriday

This week, we hosted our 4th Learning Celebration Lunch, taking time to recognise and applaud colleagues who have been committed to their personal development journey. We celebrated 46 colleagues who achieved qualifications in a range of topics.

This year, we introduced a special way to recognise the incredible commitment of our colleagues, the Optalis Long Service Pin Badge. From 5 years to an amazing 35 years of service, over 340 team members have reached this milestone!

In our latest feature, we’re celebrating the Supported Employment Service (SES) team. Their strength? A culture of respect, collaboration, and unwavering support for each other and the people they serve. zurl.co/BKrDa

“Amazing facilities, rooms and the staff team seemed very warm and welcoming.” Come experience it for yourself at our next Open Morning at Loddon Court! Monday 1 December 2025 | 10am–1pm 289 Loddon Court, Earley zurl.co/13G5P #ShortBreaks #OpenDay #EarleyEvents #CommunitySupport

We’ve been blown away by the heartfelt nominations shared during our Star Celebrations. This short video highlights the incredible impact our team members have every day, as seen through the eyes of those who work alongside them.

This week we celebrated our colleagues at the Optalis Star Celebrations, recognising their dedication and talent. With 278 nominations, it’s clear how much appreciation there is for the incredible impact our teams make every day.

Congratulations to Lewis from the Wokingham Independent Living Service. It was great to read how great support can impact on someone’s daily life and wellbeing. #TeamOptalis #ComplimentOfTheMonth #IndependentLiving

Join us at tomorrow for our next Carers Drop-In Event Meet the Community Lives team at Boyn Grove Library, Maidenhead from 10:30am to 12 noon . A two-minute silence will be held at 11am in an Act of Remembrance.

People from across Community Lives came together for a final celebration before Hollywood Bowl in Bracknell closed its doors. The tournament was an opportunity to share memories, and have fun. Danny said, “I had a fun time with my friends. I enjoyed throwing the ball when it was my turn.”

At Bluebell House, Oktoberfest has become a much-loved tradition, bringing residents, family, and staff together for a night of joy and celebration. The evening comes alive with the infectious sounds of a local Oompah Band and classic Oktoberfest treats like hot dogs and tumblers of beer.

A group of people supported by our Independent Living Service in Windsor and Maidenhead recently invited The Advocacy People to a session focused on community experiences and inclusion.

Join us at our next Carers Drop-In Event – Tuesday 11th November Meet the Community Lives team at Boyn Grove Library, Maidenhead from 10:30am to 12 noon to: - Hear updates about Community Lives - Meet other Carers - Share your feedback and suggestions For more info, call 01628 685733

Woodley Community Lives recently hosted a Big Coffee Morning and raised an impressive £301.42 for Macmillan Cancer Support. The event brought people together for a great cause. Thank you to everyone who took part and supported the event.

The Out and About team had a fantastic time teaming up with local artist Ana for Halloween craft hosted at Sedero Lounge in Wokingham. Everyone got creative painting pumpkins and enjoying a fun, relaxed evening together. Thanks to all who joined, your spooky designs were amazing!

This October, the Women’s Group at Oakbridge has been learning about breast cancer awareness through a series of discussions and activities. Using easy-read resources, the group talked about how to check for breast health and what signs and symptoms to look out for.

With the support of Wokingham In Need, residents from Bluebell House visited the Whitty Theatre in Wokingham to enjoy the Old Time Musical Event. “It was my best day. I haven’t been in a theatre for a long time, I enjoyed every minute here, from the red chairs to the stage and the performance.”

Curious about short breaks? Come say hello! We’re opening our doors again at Loddon Court for our monthly Open Morning Monday 3 November | 10am–1pm 289 Loddon Court | Earley | RG6 7ER No need to book – just drop in! zurl.co/lxrAA #OpenDay #ShortBreaks #OptalisCare

Over the past year, Clive has enjoyed spending more time with his family, with support from the team at Optalis Loddon Court Outreach. “I love all of my family. I’m enjoying my life,” Clive said. #Optalis #FamilyConnections #SupportedLiving zurl.co/zX3DE

The Short Term Support and Reablement Team took time this week to mark Diwali with a small celebration and a chance to connect.

This summer at Growing Places and Wokingham Community Lives people have been busy, planting a wide variety of vegetables and tending to a wide variety of vegetables. Week by week, they’ve cared for their crops and recently, they enjoyed the reward of their efforts with a fantastic harvest.

We wish a happy Diwali to all those celebrating.

Bluebell House recently welcomed an energetic performance organised by Wokingham In Need, in collaboration with Victory Theatre and Circus Scene. There was great enthusiasm throughout, with many joining in with the songs and clearly enjoying the moment.

The Hollies celebrated Harvest Afternoon with residents, families, and staff enjoying live music, seasonal food, and autumn-themed decorations. A highlight of the afternoon was a live trumpet performance by Kevin, whose music had everyone dancing, clapping, and tapping along.

Beach Week at Community Lives Windsor This summer, Community Lives brought the seaside to life with a vibrant Beach Week full of creativity, fun, and sensory experiences. From quizzes to beach bingo, it was a week full of summer spirit enjoyed by all!

This summer, several of the people we support took part in a Macbeth-themed drama workshop run by Friendly Bombs Theatre Company. The workshop was made possible thanks to funding from #TescoStrongerStarts, and it was a fantastic opportunity for creative expression, confidence-building, and fun.