Pennyhooks Farm Trust will host an evening of celebration later this month (March 31) at Burderop House, Chiseldon, to thank everyone involved and share plans for the future of the charity. Thanks to the generosity of supporters and volunteers, the charity has raised over £1 million in voluntary income since its beginnings and has transformed hundreds of lives.
Pennyhooks is a rural charity, based on a 100-acre organic working farm on the Oxfordshire-Wiltshire border, providing young people and adults with complex autism meaningful, structured work and life-skills training. It was founded 20 years ago by special needs teacher Lydia Otter and her colleague, Richard Hurford, a former probation officer. Today Lydia is the CEO of the charity and Richard is the senior farm manager.
Over the years, Pennyhooks has helped more than 300 individuals through its innovative farm-based programmes, giving them opportunities that are often not available elsewhere.
Lydia said:
“This evening is about celebrating the charity and everyone who has been integral to its success – from the team, the volunteers, our sponsors, funders and especially our students and their families.
“When we started on this journey we didn’t know if it would work and if it would benefit people with complex autism. Two decades later we know we have made a difference and we are now ready to move into a new era of growth to raise funds to offer support to people beyond Pennyhooks.”
The celebratory event takes place at Burderop House in Chiseldon which is the home of local entrepreneur and property developer Arthur Dallimer. Pennyhooks Farm has played a significant role in Arthur’s life because the team support his older brother Adam who has autism.
“I am delighted to host Pennyhooks Farm Trust at Burderop House, a charity that means a great deal to my family. My brother is a student there, and the team has worked tirelessly to secure the right funding and support for him. This is my way of giving back to an organisation that has made a real difference in his life and in ours,” Arthur said.
The evening on Tuesday March 31 will bring together supporters, volunteers, families of students, staff and partners to reflect on the charity’s achievements, recognise the generosity that has made its work possible and outline ambitions for future growth.
“Their belief in our vision has enabled us to raise over £1 million and to make lasting, life-changing impact for autistic young people and adults. We know our approach helps so many and we wish to do so much more. We have a waiting list when it comes to support of those with complex autism and we know that we’d like to roll out this vision to other farms; so there’s still so much to do,” Lydia said.
Guests will hear about Pennyhooks’ particular approach, recently documented and evaluated in research carried out by Emma Masefield, Pennyhooks Farm Trust’s Autism Learning Centre Director. The event will also serve as a platform to share Pennyhooks’ plans for the future, including enhancing its training programmes and exploring ways to extend its reach to even more individuals with autism on other farms.
Pennyhooks Farm Trust’s work goes beyond farm activities. The charity actively fosters community engagement, welcoming local groups to enjoy farm events and bringing people together around shared experiences of rural life. To find out more about its work or support its programmes, visit https://www.pennyhooks.com/
For anyone who would like to attend or to find out more, please email Pennyhooksfarmtrust@gmail.com. Please be aware places for the event are limited.
Article from Scott Media
