TWO country houses near Llandysul that support people with learning disabilities and mental health needs to live independent lives joined in a nationwide celebration of 105 tea parties around the UK.

Faerdre in Prengwyn Road, and Garthowen in nearby Rhydowen both support adults with learning disabilities and complex mental health needs with Garthowen also able to support physical and health needs.

They are run by Regard, the UK’s fourth biggest care provider, which has just been awarded the prestigious Gold Investors In People standard.

Staff celebrated with service users holding a tea parties at the same time as other services all over the country.

The spacious detached country houses are each able to provide home for up to eight vulnerable people, providing them with support. At Faerdre service users look after animals and are active in the garden producing vegetables.

Each currently has one first floor bedroom vacant suitable for someone with a learning disability or mental health needs.

Regard Chief Executive Officer Sandie Foxall-Smith said: “Our service users are at the heart of everything we do and staff wanted to celebrate alongside them. It took a huge logistical effort across the country but everyone had tea and cakes and decorated their homes to celebrate the success at the same time.

“The gold accreditation recognises the hard work and dedication of our staff and it is a huge achievement to have gone from the bronze award to the gold award in just three years.

“Our service is provided to some of the most vulnerable people in society. But the real test comes when an independent external assessor, such as we had with Investors In People, comes into an organisation and looks carefully at how you do things.

“Just four of the 17,000 care organisations in the country have achieved the standard so we felt it was worth celebrating.”