Dundee day centre says aye-aye to pirate-themed party

Oakland Day Centre in Dundee hosted a week-long pirate-themed party in July, bringing together service users, families, staff, and community partners for five days of fun, creativity, celebration and buccaneering.

The idea for the themed celebration was first suggested by Kirsty Lynch, social care officer, following the success of the centre's Alice in Wonderland event last year. Kirsty is known for her creativity and ability to transform ideas into reality. Kirsty worked alongside colleagues to explore a range of possible themes.

However, the final decision was in the hands of the people who use the service. Service users voted for the pirate theme and were involved in every stage of planning and preparation. Together with staff, they helped create an impressive range of handmade props, including a life-size pirate ship, treasure chest, sea-themed decorations, and a "Drunken Parrot" bar.

Staff had some challenges, including sourcing materials, managing costs, coordinating multiple staff teams, and ensuring the event was accessible and enjoyable for individuals with varying levels of dementia and cognitive impairment. Significant time and effort were required to build props from scratch and transform the centre into a pirate-themed environment. However, these challenges were overcome through excellent teamwork, community support, and effective planning.

To ensure everyone could take part, celebrations were held over five days to accommodate different attendance patterns. Families were invited to join the festivities, creating meaningful opportunities for connection and shared memories. Family members also helped service users to fully participate in the celebrations by supporting them to dress up in pirate-themed outfits.

The week featured daily entertainment, including singers and puppet magic shows, alongside pirate-themed games, activities, and a special pirate-themed menu prepared by the kitchen team. Support from local businesses, families, friends, and staff helped provide materials and raffle prizes, as well as support from Dundee's Unicorn Ship, who kindly loaned pirate-themed decorations and games to give a more authentic feel. Raffle hampers were also created, successfully raising money for the centre's comfort fund.

The event showcased outstanding teamwork, creativity, and community spirit while providing valuable social, cognitive, and sensory stimulation for people. Most importantly, it brought joy, laughter, and unforgettable moments to everyone involved.

Kim McCallum, senior social care officer and ship captain, said: “I am so proud of the team for coming together and providing fun, laughter and wonderful memories for our service users. Their creativity is phenomenal and Oakland is very lucky to have such an amazing staff team.”

Bobby, 87, said: “It was marvellous, just super and I enjoyed dressing up.”

Isobel, 69, said: “Absolutely brilliant. Everything was first class. I attend the centre twice a week and it’s about time the staff got some recognition.”

Margaret, 91, said: “It was brilliant, she’s a very talented girl to make all those decorations. The boat was excellent and the singer was good.”