At Maples, being United means more than working together when things are smooth. It’s about how we support each other when plans don’t go as expected, and how we stay connected through times of change. Recently, both a pizza day that didn’t quite go to plan and some big staff changes reminded us what this value really looks like in practice.
The Pizza Shambles 🍕
We’d organised a pizza van to bring staff together for an afternoon of food and connection. But with the van arriving late and pizzas rolling out painfully slowly, not everyone got served before time ran out. Some went hungry, others had to head home pizza-less, and frustration could have easily taken over.
What really stood out, though, was the kindness and patience people showed despite the chaos, both towards me and the people making the pizza. Even though the pizzas didn’t arrive as planned, people stuck around, made the best of it, and reminded me that unity isn’t about everything going smoothly, it’s about how we handle the bumps together.
Farewell to Legendary Staff 🌟
Recently we’ve also said goodbye to some legendary colleagues, each of them has brought unique strengths to Maples, and though we’ll miss them, their impact remains woven into the way we work together.
Their departures are a reminder that being United doesn’t mean staying the same. It means carrying forward the lessons, energy, and support we’ve shared, and using them to strengthen the whole team as new chapters begin.
Why This Reflects Our Value: UNITED
Being United doesn’t mean things are perfect, at Maples, unity is about creating environments where we can join together despite the circumstances and meet challenges with patience, laughter, and mutual support.
This is also what defines us as a Supported Living organisation for mental health. Just like with the pizza chaos, life doesn’t always go to plan, and recovery doesn’t always follow a straight line. What makes the difference is how we respond, working side by side, adapting together, and staying united through it all.
