Appeals

Giving our students more

We launch fundraising appeals because the fees we receive are not enough to provide the opportunities, experiences and environment we want for our students with learning disabilities.

We are grateful to all those who support us by making regular and one-off donations, or by organising and supporting fundraising activities.

Grant-making trusts and foundations are an essential source of funding for us, especially for large-scale projects.

The Fifth Trust is a charity registered with the Fundraising Regulator, which sets best practice for charitable fundraising in England.

Sensory gardens

The Barham Skills Centre now includes a sensory room which provides a safe, therapeutic space for students to calm and focus themselves.

As well as being beneficial for people on the autism spectrum, multi-sensory spaces have also been seen to help individuals with ADHD, cerebral palsy and Down syndrome, as well as a variety of developmental challenges. We have successfully raised over £16,000 for specialist equipment which was installed in Spring 2023.

Fundraising continues for a series of sensory gardens in the grounds of the Barham Skills Centre which horticulture students will help design, plant and care for. As well as being places of colour, texture and scent that all students can enjoy being in, the garden areas will also form an attractive viewpoint from all the new buildings including the amenity hub, where we host exhibitions open to the public.

Barham Skills Centre

Our stunning Barham Skills Centre is the result of a six-year, £2m fundraising appeal - the biggest in our 30-year history.

Replacing worn-out wooden huts, the award-winning, energy-efficient buildings are bright and airy and – crucially – fully accessible to everyone. The new activity rooms are used for media, art, craft, print and photography sessions. The amenity hub has a canteen, personal care facilities and an exhibition space for student work. The site is also home to our horticulture department, including a propagation unit growing stock for the Vineyard Garden Centre.

The new centre, which was officially opened in June 2022, has allowed us to welcome extra students and offer new services including a life skills programme for those getting prepared to live more independently.