A tale of two services. Buttercup and The Lodge, Bexhill

By Jodie Baker, Club Rep, Bexhill

Hey there, I’m Jodie from The Lodge in Bexhilll. One of the best parts of being a Club Rep is getting to highlight the people and places that make Wellgate special.

I’ve really enjoyed writing this story about the brilliant colleagues I work with.

Both services are managed by Terry Loftus. Terrys, plural. More on that in a moment…

Terry and Terry

The Lodge

It’s hard not to smile when talking about The Lodge. This male supported living service in Bexhill is home to a lively group of lads with big personalities and endless energy. You might walk in and find a pool competition, a horror movie marathon, or a baking contest happening. It’s wonderfully chaotic, in the best way.

But what really makes The Lodge special is the team. Twenty people who do more than just work together—they support each other. Families and visitors often mention the welcoming atmosphere when they come in, and that’s no coincidence.

There’s been a lot to celebrate recently. One of the lads who was unsure about trying a day service finally gave it a chance and is doing really well. There are holidays planned, like a trip to Cornwall and overnight stays at theme parks. Some are training as footballers every week, and one lad passed his karate grading in March. Amazing.

Juliet Irvin was recently promoted to Team Leader for both services, and it’s so well deserved. She also created a special training package for a tenant with PKU, a rare metabolic condition. The team at Guy’s and St Thomas’ Hospital was so impressed, they want to use it in other services too. There’s even talk of award nominations. Incredible.

A big shoutout to Loopy Lucinda, who was recognised for Wellgate Values in Action in the South region. Whether she’s driving a minibus full of footballers on her day off or accidentally queuing for France at the Channel Tunnel, Lucinda is truly one of a kind, and we love her. And, last but not least, a huge congratulations to Josh Parsons on his beautiful baby boy. We can’t wait to meet him.

Now, about those two managers, both are named Terry. The lads tried calling them Terry 1 and Terry 2, but neither liked being number 2. So now we call them Tezza, Boss, and Telbels. Sometimes, when they’re not listening, we call them the Gruesome Twosome. It’s all in good fun. We really do love them.

Buttercup Close

Just down the road is Buttercup Close, the quieter sister service to The Lodge. It opened in November 2024 and is home to five young men who wanted a calmer place. Three moved in after visiting and loved it right away. The moment everyone remembers is when a fourth resident came to help with the move, not planning to stay, but as soon as he walked in, he knew it was right for him. After three months of meetings, the team surprised him with the news that he could move in. It was a truly emotional moment.

Since moving in, all the lads have become more confident and have really found their voices.

The two services really feel like one family. Over Easter, they competed in a hot cross bun bake-off, and a group from both places went to the Congress Theatre to see Boyzlife. Singing along at a live show is definitely their idea of a perfect night out.

Teresa Deeprose also deserves a mention for coming in on her days off to support one of the lads with his meetings, just because consistency is important to him. That really shows what this team is all about.

Two services, one brilliant community. I feel truly lucky to be their Club Rep.

Jodie Baker, Club Rep at The Lodge