Canterbury Oast Trust (Cot)

We're celebrating! We're delighted to say that our MY Life Skills Academy has won Construction Project of the Year at the Kent Excellence in Business Awards! 😀 Opened in September 2018, our Academy offers a wide range of informal and accredited life skills training programmes for adults with a learning disability. Its excellence in construction is reflected in the training services we deliver within this specialised learning environment. We have many exciting plans for our ...new Academy - look out for news of our "immersive experience" room! We are extremely grateful to the many donors who funded the build. Without their belief and generous support none of this would have been possible. #keiba19 #learningdisability
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Well as Learning Disability Week 19 draws to an end we hope you have enjoyed our special posts over the past few days. Thank you for your likes, shares and comments - we’ll make sure they are all passed on to those who kindly chose to share a little of their lives with us all this week - Anna, Christopher, Lisa, Christina and Nick, Patrick and Jonathan. Ensuring that living with a learning disability is not a barrier to enjoying a full, confident independent life is what dri...ves all of us here at Canterbury Oast Trust. If you’d like to support our charity's work with people living with a learning disability please consider hitting our donate button. 😄 Thank you - and Happy Learning Disability Week everyone! #LDWeek19 #learningdisability
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Hello I’m Jonathan,
I’ve just moved home. I decided it was about time I lived in my own home, to have my own space – but I go back to see my Mum at weekends. I’m settling in to my new house. I like the people I live with and my staff.
I’ve just started at the Academy – using the computers. I work in Horticulture and have been growing the plants and making up plant labels. On Wednesdays I’m doing my City and Guilds in Health and Safety at the gallery - I have friends that I ...really like at the Gallery.
I love thunderstorms. I used to be frightened by them but now I like watching the lightening and hearing the thunder. I also like watching TV – Emmerdale, Coronation Street and Eastenders and wildlife programmes. I listen to music – I like 80’s music but also 70’s, 60’s, 50’s, 40’s and 20’s!
I have three brothers – I’m the youngest. It was my Birthday in March and I went out for dinner with my Mum and my brother. At the weekend I sometimes visit my niece. Her husband makes a lovely lunch – sausage and mash or Yorkshires and gravy. #LDWeek19 #Learningdisability
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Hello I’m Patrick, I used to live in Rye. I like the record shop in the High Street and talking about music with the staff. I tell them what I need and they find it for me. I moved recently. I wanted to be close to busses so I could go out more. I like going to Folkestone. I go to a music session there and like to talk on the mic. I love BBC Radio 2 Steve Wright in the Afternoon show and listen to DJ Silly Boy Serious Jockin’ with no “g” every Friday at 4:15pm! I like to cut ...the grass at the South Of England Rarebreeds Centre – the Farm Manager trusts me to do it. On Fridays I help at the farm too. I like bringing in the horses with Amy, my girlfriend. It was her birthday last week and she had a disco – we had a nice cold beer. I bought her a gift and she gave me a thank you kiss! I like spending time with Amy. #LDWeek19 #Learningdisability
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It’s learning disability week and we’ve been sharing some people’s stories. But our work is not just about the people who need our services but their families too. Today we hear from Nick’s sister...
Hey I’m Christina and this is me with my brother Nick, When my brother was born with a learning disability the world seemed to be preoccupied with what he couldn't do.
...Continue Reading

Hey I’m Lisa, I’m pleased with myself at the moment as I’ve hit my target weight - I’ve lost a stone and a half! I wanted to lose some weight so my clothes feel more comfortable – but also because I’m planning to be in a wedding dress one day! I live with my partner Tim - I like us having our own space. One of my hobbies is rug making – I’m working on a hot air balloon (see photo – not bad eh?!). I like music – Elvis (I’ve dressed up as Elvis!) Westlife and P!nk - at our p...op quiz night I called our team Pink after her. I also like football. I’m a Crystal Palace Football Club supporter. I hope to do a tour of their ground soon. I’m pretty good at football – I could take on the entire Arsenall team myself I think!  My Mum and Dad have passed away but I have a sister and a brother and we enjoy going out together. I am a Ranger at Poulton Wood Nature Reserve I’m working on a plaque for someone who’s dog died – I’m carving the dog’s name into the wood. I’m thinking about learning some skills at college so I can help in the office and maybe do some volunteering at a garden centre where my friend Rob works. My dream is to get married one day to the one I love. #LDWeek19 #Learningdisability
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Hello I’m Christopher,
I like to talk to people! Lots!
My Mum and Dad are always very busy with their pop quizzes. They hold them in lots of different places to raise money for COT. Sometimes I go with them to help. We had lots of tables at our quiz night on the farm last month. Our team didn’t win this time – but we’ve won before!
... I help with cleaning out the animals on our farm the South Of England Rarebreeds Centre I can move my chair and go where I like - sometimes I go around the farm on it with Molly who lives in my house too - and I look after her. I’m an uncle and when my nephews visit we go around the farm to see the animals. I go to the Academy - I’m learning to use the computer. It’s easy for me to go there – there’s lots of room for my chair. I like growing plants in horticulture and I also go to Poulton Wood Nature Reserve. I helped to sell plants at the Poulton Wood Open day. I spoke with lots of people! I also helped at the car rally at the South Of England Rarebreeds Centre on Sunday.
I’m a fan of Millwall Football Club and have been to some of their games – I have posters of them in my room. I’ve just been on holiday with my Mum and Dad to Center Parcs – it was brilliant. We played snooker and tennis and I helped my Mum cook dinners. You can find out more about the quizzes Chris’ parents host at: https://www.c-o-t.org.uk/how-you-can-h… /…/expert-fundraisers #LDWeek19 #Learningdisability
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It’s Learning Disability week! Here at Canterbury Oast Trust we celebrate living with a learning disability every day - so each day this week we'll be sharing some people’s stories... Hello I’m Anna, I’ve lived with Canterbury Oast Trust (COT) for a long time. My Mum and Dad helped set up the charity and its farm the South Of England Rarebreeds Centre. They were farmers and when my Dad retired he gave advice about the animals and drove the trailer rides and my Mum worked in t...he shop. My Dad was a Trustee of the charity – and now my brother is a Trustee too. I have two brothers and three sisters – I’m the youngest. I’m an Aunty – and a Great Aunty! One of my sisters lives in Canada and I try to visit her every three years. I enjoyed lots of active sports when I was a bit younger. I loved skiing and horse riding – even though I had a few tumbles now and then! I like the theatre – especially musicals. I’ve seen “My Fair Lady” – and going to see “Eric and Ernie” at The Marlowe Theatre this month. I had a stroke recently and that affected my voice and I have problems with my memory sometimes. So I need to take it a bit easier now. I don’t do as much as I used to on the farm but I still love being around the animals – they all have their own funny ways! I LOVE cooking. I learned a lot from my Mum - I still have her recipe book. I’m now part of the team in the Granary Restaurant. I’m teaching some of my Mum’s recipes to the other students. #LDWeek19 #Learningdisability #Ilovecooking
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It's our Annual Open Day at Canterbury Oast Trust (COT)
Residential, Supported Living & Life Skills Services! Wednesday 19th June 2019, 10am - 12:30pm
... Are you are a parent, carer, care manager, part of a school, college or another care organisation who join us in supporting and encouraging individuals with a learning disability to achieve their full potential?
If so why not come along to our Annual Open Day and take a look around or meet with one of our managers who will be on hand to answer any questions.#learningdisability #independentliving #lifeskills #supportedliving
You'll find us at: The Falcons Centre Rare Breeds Centre, Highlands Farm, Warehorne Road, Woodchurch, TN26 3RJ Contact: 01233 860622
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JUST 4 MORE DAYS LEFT TO VOTE FOR US! Please vote for Canterbury Oast Trust and Rare Breeds Centre to help us receive a donation of £3,000! It takes seconds to do. If you would like to help us - click on the link below, scroll down and select Canterbury Oast Trust. Voting closes on the 10th June. Thank you to all of the lovely people who have voted for us already.... PLEASE SHARE WITH YOUR FRIENDS AND FAMILY TOO Thank you to our wonderful supporter Christina Martin for putting us forward 🥰 https://www.claims.co.uk/charity-acclamat ion-award
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Plants need rain - right?! We're braving the best the British weather has to offer here at the Wealden Times Midsummer Fair at Hole Park, Cranbrook. We've still got lovely plants available - so if you missed us today come see us tomorrow - sunshine is promised! 🌞😎 #wealdenfair #beautifulplants #learningdisability #plantnursery #britishsummertime

We're busy making up the orders here on our Plants and Produce stand at the Wealden Times Midsummer Fair at Hole Park, Cranbrook. We've still got lots of lovely plants available - so if you missed us today come see us tomorrow or Saturday! We have lots of exciting plants and vegetables for you to discover 😄 #wealdenfair #beautifulplants #learningdisability #plantnursery

So we're all set up and ready to go! Come see our beautiful Plants and Produce stand at the Wealden Times Midsummer Fair at Hole Park, Cranbrook from tomorrow 6th, 7th and 8th June. We have lots of exciting plants and vegetables for you to discover 😄 #wealdenfair #beautifulplants #learningdisability #plantnursery

Please vote for Canterbury Oast Trust and Rare Breeds Centre to help us receive a donation of £3,000! It takes seconds to do. If you would like to help - click on the link below, scroll down and select Canterbury Oast Trust. Voting closes on the 10th June. PLEASE SHARE WITH YOUR FRIENDS AND FAMILY TOO Thank you to our wonderful supporter Christina Martin for putting us forward 🥰... https://www.claims.co.uk/charity-acclamat ion-award…
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It was a little bit soggy on the farm this morning but the team from the CCSU Music Society arrived to brighten our day! The Society has been fundraising for our charity over the past year - hosting concerts, bake sales, raffles - and presented us with the results of their hard work on our behalf - an astounding £1,000! A thousand thanks to every lovely one of them! 🥰
It's only with the help of kind supporters that our charity can continue to provide and develop our inspiring services for people with a learning disability.

Fancy enjoying a relaxed evening of music this weekend?
Why not join CCSU Music Society at their Summer Concert to celebrate the performance achievements of the society this year - all while supporting Canterbury Oast Trust (COT) as their chosen Charity of the Year 😊
See below for further details: