Mid-Atlantic Wellness Institute patients got into the holiday spirit with the creation of Cup Match accessories and a cricket game.

Patients with learning difficulties put together bracelets, key chains, fanny packs and badges before an East versus West challenge on the cricket field. Chevon Burrows, 30, said he enjoyed the crafts and festivities. He added: “My favourite thing to make was the pom-poms because they were fun to play with.”

Mr Burrows, who works for florists Demco, played for the programme’s victorious St George’s team and earned the title of Most Valuable Player.

He said: “It was a lot of fun. My favourite parts are batting and bowling.”

Juliette Basden, activities coordinator for the learning disabilities programme at MWI, said that the activities help clients with “reality orientation”.

She explained: “Everything for them is centred around feeling and seeing and touch, so when we have them making crafts for the holiday season, it helps them grasp their reality.

“Through activities like this, it really helps the clients with community involvement.”

The hospital has run creative workshops for patients at special holiday times for the last eight years. The trinkets, which are sold at MWI and King Edward VII Memorial Hospital, help fund the programme and to pay for trips and other activities.

The patients were split up into groups of 25 and worked with hospital staff to decorate blank items.

Ms Basden said that, because the clients can have trouble completing tasks, the jobs were split into an assembly line-style operation with some sorting beads and painting before switching to another group.

She added that demand for the accessories has grown over the years and the programme had netted $800 from Cup Match souvenirs this year.

The patients will also get the chance to watch the Cup Match game on television.

Mr Burrows said he planned to watch the game at Somerset Cricket Club with his family.