Summary

Zetetick held a Christmas party for tenants and used the event to listen to what people need from their homes. Bringing everyone together helped tenants feel welcome, included and connected, while also giving them a chance to share their ideas in a relaxed and fun way.

Tenants shared their Christmas wishes and talked about what helps them live well at home. They could take part in different ways, including easy read forms, emojis, stickers and art activities, so everyone could join in in a way that worked for them.

Many tenants said home is where they enjoy everyday things like cooking, listening to music, watching TV and relaxing. People also talked about wanting to feel more independent, spend time with family and friends, and feel safe and calm in their own space.

The party included music, karaoke, a magician and festive food, as well as a quiet sensory room for anyone who needed a break from noise or crowds. This helped make sure everyone felt comfortable and included.

Each tenant received a Christmas gift, with more gifts being delivered before Christmas so no one is missed out. Zetetick’s Christmas appeal helps fund small but important items and support that make a real difference, helping adults with learning disabilities feel safe, valued and at home at Christmas and all year round.

All I want for Christmas – Zetetick Tenant Christmas Campaign

Reading time: 5 minutes

Housing for adults with learning disabilities starts with listening

Each year, we bring our tenant community together for an engagement event to ensure we understand their day-to-day experiences of living in a Zetetick home, and learn what more we can do to help people feel settled, confident and connected. This year, we combined it with a Christmas party as an even better way to build a connection with and between our tenants.

In the weeks leading up to the event, and on the day itself, tenants were invited to share their Christmas wishes. They were encouraged to think beyond traditional presents and focus instead on what helps them live well in their own homes.

Wishes were shared in ways designed to be fun, inclusive and accessible. Some tenants filled in easy read forms, while others voted using emoji buttons. At the party, stickers and a wide range of art materials were available so people could express their wishes and add them to the Christmas wishing tree in their own way.

What tenants told us about their homes

For many tenants, home is the place where they can enjoy the things they love most. Cooking meals. Listening to music. Singing, dancing or watching favourite programmes. These everyday activities play a vital role in wellbeing, and having the right tools, equipment or adaptations can make all the difference. This is often where the impact of Zetetick’s work is felt most clearly.

Tenants also spoke about the importance of spending time with family and friends, helping others and staying connected to their local communities. A good home supports social connection. It provides a welcoming base where relationships can grow and where visitors feel comfortable and included.

Many wishes focused on independence. Cooking for themselves. Managing daily routines. Exploring new places. Celebrating milestones. Housing for adults withlearning disabilitiesplays a key role here. The right home, combined with thoughtful adaptations, gives people greater choice and control over their lives.

Others shared how important it is to have a calm, safe space to relax and recover. A place to retreat to and feel secure in a world that can be complex and overwhelming, particularly for people with more complex needs.

Sensory spaces and party places

The Christmas party itself reflected many of these wishes. Tenants enjoyed karaoke, disco music and a magician, creating a lively atmosphere with plenty of opportunities to connect and have fun together.

Alongside this, a sensory room was available for anyone who needed a quieter space. With gentle lighting, soothing sounds, tactile surfaces and comfortable seating, it offered a calm alternative where people could relax and recharge.

Most importantly, the event created space for tenants to connect with each other over festive food and drink, and for Zetetick to listen carefully and ensure tenant voices are heard and acted on.

By centring tenant voices, Zetetick continues to shape housing for adults with learning disabilities around real lives and real needs. This approach supports long-term tenancies where people feel safe, valued and truly at home.

A leaving gift

Each tenant received a carefully selected gift from Sensory Direct on the day, creating moments of joy and shared celebration. In the lead up to Christmas, our maintenance teams will also deliver a gift to every tenant during their visits, helping to ensure no one misses out and providing a useful support during a busy time of year.

Support our Christmas appeal

The wishes shared by tenants show how small, thoughtful changes can make a big difference to daily life at home. This Christmas, our appeal is helping to fund the extras that turn safe housing into fulfilling lives.

Your support can help provide practical tools, calming sensory items and opportunities for connection that matter to the people who live in Zetetick homes.

Find out more about our Christmas appeal and how you can get involved on our website. Every contribution helps support housing for adults with learning disabilities in ways shaped directly by tenant voices.

Donate today

Why our work matters 365 days a year

Zetetick provides housing for adults with learning disabilities, autism and other additional needs across South London and the South East. For the people we support, a home that truly meets their needs can be life changing. A safe, secure home provides the foundation for belonging, confidence and independence.

Yet the reality is that too many people with complex needs are still living in places that do not meet them. Evidence from the Learning Disabilities and Autism Housing Network shows that fewer than one in forty adults with learning disabilities or autism live in supported housing. Many others remain in unsuitable settings, including hospitals and secure units, often for far longer than they should.

This means that for many individuals, Christmas will be spent without the stability, comfort and choice that a real home provides. Zetetick’s work helps change this picture by creating stable, long-term homes that support independence, wellbeing and connection to the community. This is work that matters not just at Christmas, but every day of the year, and for life.

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