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Fund Accessibility on the Farm!

The Rare Breeds Centre is a farm visitor attraction run by Canterbury Oast Trust. We want to make this family-friendly location accessible for a wide range of disabilities, providing inclusivity, autonomy and dignity for visitors with varying needs.

We support adults with learning disabilities and autism to live confident, independent lives through our accommodation services, skills training, personal development and inspiring work experiences. Our largest training project is the Rare Breeds Centre our farm visitor attraction.

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Help us make the Rare Breeds Centre accessible for everyone

Our recent survey showed that the people we support want to explore every part of our farm, just like many of visitors are able to. However, currently the Rare Breeds Centre doesn’t fully accommodate all accessibility needs, and addressing this is a priority for us.

A welcoming place for families with special needs

Our farm team regularly works with our learning disabled and autistic students, and we've built a reputation as a supportive and inclusive destination for families whose children have SEN or disabilities. We strive to create an environment where every visitor feels safe, welcome, and able to enjoy meaningful experiences together.

We've begun addressing some accessibility needs, and we're dedicated to also supporting those with vision, hearing, mobility, and sensory needs.

Last year, we secured funding for an accessibility audit, which gave us a clear plan for how the farm can better serve people with a wider range of needs.

Expanding access for all abilities

We're raising money to fund big upgrades across our site, aiming to make it accessible for people with a wide range disabilities. The estimated cost to implement all recommended upgrades from the accessibility audit is around half a million pounds. Here are some specific improvements we're working towards:

• Wheelchair-accessible playground equipment

• A Changing Places facility for dignified bathroom access for those with complex needs

• Calm, quiet spaces for those experiencing sensory overload

• Better wayfinding and signage for easier navigation

• Sensory backpacks and ear defenders available on site

• Information guides in large print, braille, and audio formats

Your help would mean the world to those who live, learn, and visit our farm, especially families with disabled children who face limited options for outings. Every donation, however small, will make a real difference towards these upgrades.

Donation summary

Total
£32,690.00
+ £47.50 Gift Aid
Online
£190.00
Offline
£32,500.00
Direct
£190.00
Fundraisers
£0.00

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