Children's Adventure Farm Trust
The Children’s Adventure Farm Trust (CAFT) is a registered charity No 1003675 based in Cheshire, England. It provides opportunities for approximately 3,000 disabled, terminally ill and disadvantaged children each year.
History of The Children's Adventure Farm Trust
The Children's Adventure Farm Trust, known as CAFT, was formed in 1985 by Tim Grundy and a group of like-minded local businessmen. Tim had a vision of a centre which would provide holidays for children living in Children’s Homes.
Fundraising began, and four years later, in 1989, Booth Bank Farm in Millington was purchased. In 1992 this 10-acre (40,000 m2) site opened its doors to children from all over the North West. It continues to expand its range of facilities and activities for the children.
Each year, CAFT must raise more than £900,000. The Adventure Farm is funded entirely by voluntary contributions, it does not receive any statutory funding.
Facts and Figures
Each year the Adventure Farm helps 3,000 children aged 4 to 16, coming from all over the North West, with people coming from Cheshire, Lancashire, Merseyside, Cumbria, Staffordshire, Yorkshire, North Wales and Derbyshire.
Approximately 60% of these children have physical disabilities, including many with sensory impairments, mobility problems and brain injuries. 40% of CAFT’s users have learning disabilities or behavioural problems, such as Autism, Downs Syndrome or Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), it is often the case that the children staying will have both physical and learning disabilities. They regularly see children with physical injuries; others have chronic, life-limiting and terminal illnesses. In the region of 40% of the children come from economically deprived areas.
CAFT also welcomes children as young as 5 who act as carers within the home, taking care of parents with chronic illnesses, mental health problems or addiction. Many children visiting are currently residing outside of the traditional family home, either in foster care, children’s homes or with their mothers in Refuges. Many will also be receiving support and counselling for the terrible emotional and physical scars caused by abuse, others have been witnesses of a crime either in their home, at school or on the streets.
Fundraising and Sponsorship
CAFT relies solely on voluntary contributions and fundraising activities and challenges, both from individuals and businesses.
In 2012 challenges organised by CAFT [1] included:
- Manchester 10K run by 100 supporters
- 230 mile Coast to Coast by 12 energetic cyclists travelling from Southport to Hornsea
- 3 Volcanoes Challenge by 32 supporters. Previous treks included Great Wall of China, Grand Canyon, Sahara Desert and the rainforest of Costa Rica with 5,485 miles covered by the trekkers in total.
Some of the other fundraising activities in 2012 [1] included:
- CAFT Golf Day at Mere raising £17,000
- Ladies Lunch, raising £40,000 from 330 guests
- CAFT Open Day, where over 1,000 visitors where welcomed by Happy Mondays Gary Whelan and Rowetta
- Christmas Grand Ball
- Carol Concert in Hale
- Annual Subway Golf Classic
- It's a Knockout' style games
- Charity Art Exhibition, 'Around the World in 80 Artists' organised the not for profit organisation, Art with a Heart, Arts Centre based in Altrincham [2][3]
- Charity Fashion Show organised by Andrea Claire Boutique raising over £2,500 [4]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 ,CAFT November 2012 Newsletter
- ↑ "Art With A Heart Art Centre in Altrincham, Cheshire is a not for profit organisation". Artwithaheart.org.uk. Retrieved 2013-10-30.
- ↑
- ↑ http://www.andreaclaire.co.uk/news.htm