“Getting these products from In Kind Direct has been fantastic!”
£500,000 in value of products received
3,000 children benefitting each year
Children’s Adventure Farm Trust provides special holidays for special children. Children get a break away from their often challenging lives to enjoy a day, few days or a week at the farm. The rural location, accessible facilities and friendly staff make this an unforgettable experience, benefitting around 3,000 children each year. The grounds include a beautiful 17th century farm house for guests to stay in, as well as a BBQ area, an alpaca farm, an aviary and a sensory garden. Over the years, their service has extended from children in care, to children suffering any form of hardship.
With support from Sport England, the charity has a dedicated sports hall with areas to relax and make music upstairs. Products from In Kind Direct, ranging from cleaning products to toys, hygiene products and catering supplies, are used throughout the building and are particularly appreciated by the older children in creating a stimulating but relaxing space for socialising.
Children’s Adventure Farm Trust and In Kind Direct
The charity started working with In Kind Direct in 2007, receiving over £500,000 in value of products.
Products from In Kind Direct support the charity to deliver its core work. As a residential facility, laundry and cleaning supplies are used daily; other cleaning supplies are given to families to take home at the end of their stay.
With the need for specialist equipment and an oversubscribed service, savings made thanks to In Kind Direct help free up funds to support the charity’s key services.
“We love In Kind Direct – the savings we make with them are ploughed back into the charity and help us keep welcoming so many children and their families every year,” says Trust Fundraiser & Press Officer Helen Crowther.
“We work with a range of children of all different backgrounds and abilities. The dedicated sensory area provides a calm but stimulating space for children to relax. We purchased a bubble tube which everyone loves for the room, which cost about £2,000. We wouldn’t have been able to do this without the savings we make on everyday items with In Kind Direct.”
Toys are always needed, in particular at Christmas. Children’s Adventure Farm Trust provide five weeks of parties, which over 1,200 children attend annually and each child receives a bag of presents. For many, these will be their only gifts. The charity sets a limit of £20 worth of toys for each bag, which through In Kind Direct can be achieved for a fraction of the cost. These savings are then spent on event costs and other projects by the charity.
Many products are also used to support their day to day activates throughout the year. This includes dressing up costumes, art supplies and picnic items. In providing sensory activities, less usual items like tin foil, colanders and sparkling decorations have also been great in the past.
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