Next Saturday, August 16 the staff and trainees all welcome you to come along and have a fantastic day at the Little Gate Farm Summer Saturday. The event had to be postponed earlier in the year when severe weather predictions forced us to reschedule but do, please join us for a wonderful day of summer fun at Little Gate Farm, a stunning setting in the heart of the countryside. Well behaved dogs on leads are also very welcome.
Last year’s event was a huge success, the months of meticulous planning paid off and by 11.00am the free parking field was nudging towards capacity as nearly 900 visitors (the highest footfall to date) descended on Little Gate Farm.
We are expecting similar numbers again this year. There is so much to see and do so don’t miss it. Entry is just £2 per adult but under 18s and Little Gate trainees can enter free. There is plenty of free on-site field parking as well as a limited amount of blue badge spaces.
There is a bar serving alcoholic and soft drinks which you can enjoy on the lawn as you relax and listen to live music from local musicians throughout the day. Food trucks and ice cream are also available if you want something savoury or sweet to eat and of course there’s the obligatory raffle and tombola if you fancy your chances.
There’s plenty for kids too with children’s entertainments and crafts and for grownups a local maker’s market facilitated by http://www.newstyleevents.co.uk
Have-a-go archery is always a popular choice, and splat the rat is always a crowd puller (don’t worry, it’s a game and no animals are involved). There is also the opportunity to buy sacks of our organic charcoal, which is produced on the farm, woodland products made by our work trainees and our Little Gate flower stall will have some colourful home-grown hand-tied bouquets to purchase.
There will be card payment facilities available, but some stalls will be cash payment only so please bring cash where possible.
There is the opportunity to explore the whole farm with guided tours, a chance to meet some of the resident animals (goats, alpacas, Shetland ponies, sheep, Guinea pigs) see the bespoke purpose-built buildings constructed by the farm using timber from their own woods and recycled pallets.
As well as seeing the farm, visitors will get a real feel of what this amazing charity is all about, in essence, finding paid jobs for adults with learning disabilities and autism by giving them the support to enable them to learn and adapt to their new future roles in the workplace. Currently, with 94% of adults with learning disabilities either in unpaid work, day care or stuck at home, you can see how vital the work of Little Gate Supported Employment is and why their work strikes such a chord with so many people.
Last year, the event raised a whopping £8,145.49 and with your support we might raise even more this year so please come along and support us on Saturday, August 16 from 11.00am – 5.00pm at Little Gate Farm, Horseshoe Lane, Beckley, TN31 6RZ.
http://www.littlegatefarm.org.uk
Image Credits: Nick Forman , Little Gate Supported Employment , Florence Gidney .