Thank you - and have a great Christmas!

23.12.2019

We've had wonderful support from huge numbers of folk throughout 2019. We wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a wonderful New Year. See you all in 2020!

Well, what a year that was!  A big anniversary for us - 40 years since Michael Hill and Alan Aikin established the Trust at Whirlow.  So as well as doing what we've done for years - helping thousands of children to learn in a different kind of environment - we wanted to make a real statement about the future too.

With unbelieveable support from businesses, individuals, volunteers and community organisations, we have managed to do just that.  Not only have we finished the year in good nick - our shop and butchery have another  hundred-or-so turkeys to unite with their Christmas hosts and then we can all breathe a sigh of relief - but we've secured the funds needed to build a second education block.  Once completed (we're awaiting the result of our planning application and hope to get cracking in late spring next year) that will give us the space needed to help twice as many children who struggle in mainstream education.  That wouldn't have been possible without the incredible local businesses that have helped plan, design and cost the new facilities, or the wondefully generous individuals who have donated the money needed.  We owe them all an enormous debt of gratitude.

Our plans for the future don't stop there however.  We also need to remodel our shop and cafe so that the Trust becomes increasingly self-sufficient.  Again, we've been overwhelmed by the support we've recieved and, whilst we haven't yet managed to solve the funding bit of the puzzle, are confident that the brilliant designs that have been drawn up will become reality next year too. 

So we just want to take one last 2019 opportunity to say an enormous thank you to all of you for supporting us this year - the work we do simply wouldn't be possible without you.  Whether you've volunteered, shopped, attended events, raised funds, provided professional support, spread the word, worked at the Farm, given encouragement, sung for us, baked for us, donated to us......THANK YOU.  Have a wonderful Christmas and here's to a happy, prosperous and successful New Year.

Hope to see you all in 2020!