THE Children’s Adventure Farm Trust (CAFT) near Lymm, is now benefiting from an incredible new viewing platform, complete with winding woodland pathway, sensory lighting and a sleek glass balustrade, courtesy of local construction firm Lane End Group.
Completed during the COVID-19 pandemic, the project was Lane End’s biggest community charity project to date, helping give young people and their families most in need across the North West, support and guidance they so desperately missed due to COVID restrictions.
CAFT, based close to Lane End’s Head Office in Thelwall, provides a variety of free programmes for terminally ill, disabled and disadvantaged children from all over the North West of all abilities aged 17 and under, who through no fault of their own miss out on the normalities of childhood.
The needs of the children visiting the farm are complex and range from severe physical and learning disabilities, sensory impairments and terminal illnesses through to children who act as carers for a family member, have already faced bereavement or have witnessed and been victims of abuse. For these children, a visit to CAFT provides a much-needed opportunity to have fun and laughter and to simply enjoy being children.
The new viewing platform and sensory pathway allows everyone that visits the facilities to enjoy the awe-inspiring view over the Cheshire countryside, regardless of their physical ability, and is a welcome addition to the experiences available to the farm’s visitors.
CAFT prides itself on treating all children as individuals, recognising their own strengths, likes and dislikes. Disability is never seen as a barrier to participation and children from social and ethnic groups are warmly welcomed by Activity Play Specialists who are trained to provide fun, safe and engaging activities that suit the interests and needs of every child who visits.
Lane End are committed to giving back to the communities in which they build, and recognising the brilliant work CAFT do, worked hard to create a truly unique project for the charity that will benefit visitors to the farm for many years to come.
The team managed and financed the project from start to completion, utilising their experienced supply chain to ensure a perfect finish, planning, designing and building the beautiful viewing platform, complete with winding woodland pathway, sensory lighting and a sleek glass balustrade to allow everyone to access this inspiring view across the Cheshire plains.
“The view from the farm, over the Cheshire countryside is one that should be accessible to everyone, we wanted to elevate guests so that children of all ages, disabilities and their families could enjoy the vista together. It’s a flexible space that has hosted bands, workshops and games and is much more than a viewing point,” explained Richard Harrison, Managing Director of Lane End Group.
Ian Eccles, CEO of CAFT added: “We’d like to say a massive thank you to Lane End and all the people involved in creating our amazing new viewing platform. The viewing platform and path is a fantastic addition to our facilities and gives the children an exciting and independent way to explore our woodland area and get a glimpse of the world outside the farm hedges. It has been really well received by the children, families and groups visiting, and is already becoming a firm favourite.”
The project is one of a number undertaken by The Lane End Group as part of their Social Enterprise, New Beginnings. The Group formed its social value arm over four years ago as their way of giving back to the communities in which they build and have contributed to over 65 social projects over the last 12 months.
