Pennyhooks is unique, offering young people and adults with Autism the opportunity to take part in specialised step by step work based training. With support from one to one experienced staff students start their learning through an adapted Open Colleges Network (OCN) Countryside Skills Course.
Being taught initially to care for the animals and given hands on practice, students show a good ability to learn and build on their skills. Our training programme has grown in response to what the students themselves have shown they are capable of doing if given the time and opportunity.
Pennyhooks now offers modules in animal care, woodwork, horticulture, rural crafts, conservation and cooking. Supported by specialist teachers and skilled support workers and headed up by the CEO’s own range of countryside and educational skills, the students are now producing and selling a range of quality products. These include bee and bird houses, plant supports, organic eggs, cakes, preserves and rural craft which we sell at our open days and at local outlets.
We also encourage students to develop important ‘soft’ work related skills such as listening, working together and having an eye for quality. While those at Pennyhooks would find employment in a mainstream, urban environment very difficult, on the farm they thrive.
We believe in our students and support their abilities and willingness to learn using the farm environment. We are committed to our ethos of kindness and respect to support their individual needs.
Community engagement is central to our work. Pennyhooks is a small but busy farm with many links to local businesses, services, interest and volunteer groups. We encourage engagement, gently supported between ourselves and local people, especially by opening the farm. Throughout the year, in May, June and November we host sale events. See our Facebook page for dates of our upcoming events. During these events the farm is open to the public to come and buy our products, including delicious homemade cakes and to enjoy the farm. We also share our donkeys by taking part in Shrivenham’s Palm Sunday Procession through the village each year.
We also host smaller community events such as our new ‘Tea Times Together’, where our young people bake for local community groups (such as the WI and The Gardening Club) and host them for tea with homemade cakes and biscuits, a visit to our shop and time with the animals, all in the beautiful environment of our Butterfly Room, overlooking the farm. We believe such experiences enrich both the lives of our young people with Autism and members of our local community alike.
If you belong to a local community group and would like to know more about our ‘Tea Times Together’ events, please e-mail us on: info@pennyhooks.com
Recently we hosted a group of young people from Rural Youth Europe who were taking part in an event to bring together rural young people (aged 18 to 35) from all over Europe to discuss differences in cultures, farming, democracy, and specific topics such as mental health and well-being in rural areas. They showed great enthusiasm and understanding of Pennyhooks.
