Residents and tenants came together for an evening of creativity, kindness and conversation as Rosa hosted her latest craft workshop at Lisieux Trust Head Office.

The session saw people making welcome cards for a special project involving Chief Executive Emma.

It was the latest in a growing series of events led by Rosa, who has previously helped bring people together through quizzes, bingo, Christmas card making and other creative activities.

Reflecting on the evening, Rosa said: “A lot of people came and I was giving them drinks and I think it all went well because they were all happy and jolly. [Head of Operations] Alison helped me, but she left me to a lot of it.”

As well as helping with refreshments and tidying up as the session went along, Rosa joined in with the creative work herself. “They were making welcome cards,” she said, adding that people also “made bracelets and crafts” and “did some colouring”. Rosa herself made a sympathy card for the residents in the house, where they are coming to terms with a tragic loss.

For Rosa, the value of the evening went beyond the cards themselves. She said the activities help “with their well-being and my own mental health” and added that being together in a relaxed, creative space is “good for their mental health” because people are happy.

That sense of joy was what stood out most to Rosa. Asked what her favourite thing about the evening was, she said simply: “I enjoyed it. I made everybody happy. And myself.”

Rosa is already thinking about what might come next. “I’ll have to think of something else,” she said — and, if her past activities are anything to go by, there will be plenty more chances for people to come together, get creative and have fun.