Princess Christian’s Farm is a life skills training facility supporting people with a learning and/or physical disability, the aim is for individuals to learn new skills both on the farm and in all aspects of daily living.
What We Offer
“There is a role and a place for everyone here at the farm and the learning opportunities are endless and the support you will receive is first-class.”
Princess Christian’s Farm is a unique environment for service users with a learning and/or physical disability. Come and make new friends, develop confidence and employment skills, experience working farm life as well as develop key daily living skills in a beautiful setting.
It really is an amazing site set in over 116 acres of pasture and woodland where we use real-life needs and scenarios to promote effective learning, provide meaningful work experience, develop small business initiatives as well as promoting independence in all aspects of life. We can accommodate up to 35 service users each day and are in the process of developing valued volunteer roles also.
We offer day training between the hours of 10am-3pm Monday to Friday.
A Bit of History
Princess Christian’s Farm, established in 1910 near Tonbridge, Kent, by Princess Christian, was created as a self-supporting home for people with learning difficulties. Initially independent, it became part of Leybourne Grange in 1948 under the NHS. After 1984, Kent County Council took over the farm, expanding its activities. Since 2009, the farm has been managed by educational institutions, most recently by North Kent College and KASBAH, focusing on skill development and employment for people with disabilities.
Learn more about our history
Princess Christian of Schleswig-Holstein. Photo by Alexander Bassano, c. 1882
Opportunities Available:
Animal Care:
The farm has over 100 animals to care and nurture and breed.
Agriculture:
There is extensive land to tend and innovate.
Horticulture:
The farm cultivates a range of plants, herbs and vegetables under glass, and in a poly-tunnel and the garden.
Catering:
The farm kitchen prepares healthy meals, and baked goods for the shop and the local farmer’s markets.
We offer placements to:
- Kent County Council’s Learning Disability Teams (Young People/Over 26+/Physical Disability/Autistic Spectrum Disorder)
- Individuals can also self-fund
Eligibility criteria:
- Anyone within a disability within the County of Kent
- The farm is wheel-chair friendly
- There are no age restrictions, just 18+ for day training opportunities
Requirements for each referral
- There needs to be a willingness to take part and develop skills as well as to try new activities
- We will work in groups unless 1:1/2:1 funded
- Must be able to participate in aspects of farm management
How to refer into the service:
- Give us a call or e-mail us for an application pack
- We will invite you to come and visit the farm and meet the team
- Complete an application form
- Attend taster days (two free sessions offered)
- A meeting will be held to agree individual targets and a plan will be formulated
Donate
Please support the good work we do and the many animals we care for.
