Supporting Adults for over 45 years!
We are proud to have been supporting adults with mental health and learning difficulties for over 40 years.
Our dedicated staff support our clients to develop key skills, grow in confidence and live more independently within their communities through meaningful daytime support and activities.
A Person Centered Approach
Our person centred and independent choice approach means each of our clients choose their own daily activities and individuals ambitions and aspirations are incorporated into their support plans.
Set across 52 acres, we offer a wide range of activities including…
The Farm Park
Clients are supported and encouraged to learn new skills, knowledge and understanding of how to care for animals. Farm tasks undertaken will include cleaning pens, grooming animals, feeding animals, filling waters, health checking animals, and plenty more.
Our Clients also get the chance of interacting with the general public while working on this area, such as sharing information about the animals, showing them around when we have new baby arrivals or even running our Animal Petting sessions!
Outcomes: Working in this area helps clients build communication, confidence, independence and social skills.
Horticulture
We have a brand NEW Horti Shed & poly tunnel specifically for our Clients to use. They learn how to sow seeds, pot up plants, prune flowers & even keep our Gnome Village Plants in tip top condition!
Our Clients dedicate their time to growing fruit and vegetables in raised beds, which they spend time watering and harvesting them when ready! They go on to be processed in our Potting Shed Cafe or fed to the Farm Animals.
Outcomes: Working in this area develops an understanding of time, patience and consistency.
The Craft Room
We have a purpose built space dedicated to the craft activities to allow for more personal sessions. Clients are given the opportunity to be involved in a range of activities including using a sewing machine, card making, jewellery making, painting, magnet making and plenty more.
A selection of items made in our Craft Room, go on to be sold in our Garden Centre or even taken off-site to our stall at Bucks County Show!
Outcomes: Working in this area helps to build fine motor skills and allows the clients to express their creativeness.
The Woodwork Room
Clients are enabled to use machinery and tools while in a controlled environment, due to our specifically designed woodwork room. With smaller client groups, it allows the staff team to work more closely with the clients to develop their skills.
The clients get involved in all aspects of designing new products to sell in our Garden Centre, alongside making plenty of decorative items for around the Farm Park – especially during event seasons. Some of the products include wooden animal decorations, bug hotels, bird houses and even watering can planters!
Outcomes: Working in this area helps to develop fine motor skills and gives the clients a sense of achievement, especially when they can see their products being displayed around the farm!
Maintenance
Being based on a big site allows for a variety of jobs that the clients can get involved in. The clients help to keep the Farm Park in tip top condition by pruning trees when needed, collecting all litter, scrubbing bird poo of the tables, sweeping the pathways and even cleaning all the animal information signs!
No day is the same on maintenance as there is always something new to keep up with, such as decorating the farm for events or unloading deliveries into designated areas.
Outcomes: Working in this area develops clients team work skills and promotes acting on their initiative!
Horticultural Maintenance
Clients can take pride in their work as they spend time weeding the flower beds located around the site, watering all plants and helping the Garden Centre prune their plants that are on display.
The clients design hanging baskets from scratch. They spend time collecting all the items needed, planting it all up and then they will either get displayed around the Farm Park or go on to be sold in our Garden Centre.
Outcomes:
The Cookery Hub
The clients will be supported to learn and develop skills in a kitchen facility, from preparing different types of food, to baking cakes from scratch and learning how to read and follow recipe instructions.
The cookery hub is where our client hot lunches are made, dished up and then delivered to our dining room.
Outcomes: Working in this area helps develop fine motor skills, time keeping and following structure. The clients thrive on being able to physically see and follow through something start to finish, for example weighing out all the cake ingredients, allowing it to cook in the oven and then slicing up and serving it!
What we’ve been up to recently…
Meet The Team
We have over 15 dedicated team members at Thrift Farm, that all make a positive impact in our clients wellbeing!
Rachel, Sarah & Sophie run the ASC provision here and will be more than happy to discuss your initial enquiry with you further.
Rachel – Head of Adult Social Care
Having worked at the farm since 2013, Rachel is proud to be part of a team that strives every day to ensure that service users are supported in a person centred way to achieve their personal goals.
Sarah – ASC Deputy Manager
Sarah helps service users develop their social skills and feel empowered. She enjoys seeing how proud service users are of the new ‘Reflection’ areas around the farm which visually showcase latest projects.
Sophie – Senior Support Worker
How to join us
At Thrift Farm we are able to offer as little as half a day to five days a week of support depending on need and availability. We accept both private and funded clients.
Click below to download our free Guide to Adult Social Care at Thrift Farm to find out more or, if you prefer, arrange a call back.
