The Children’s Adventure Farm Trust

CAFT provides a variety of free programmes for terminally ill, disabled and disadvantaged children under the age of 17 from all over the North West. The programmes give an opportunity for fun, laughter and the chance to simply be children.

Based at Booth Bank Farm, a 17th Century farmhouse set in the heart of the Cheshire countryside, the charity accommodates the often complex needs of the children visiting the Farm.

These range from severe physical and learning disabilities, sensory impairments and terminal illnesses through to children who act as carers for a family member, faced bereavement or who have witnessed and been victims of abuse.

Disability is never seen as a barrier to participation and children from all social and ethnic groups are welcomed. The farm offers a full range of accessible activities including forest school, galleon play area, sensory adventure playground, sports hall, games room, BBQ area, music, art and multisensory rooms, soft play and farm animals including alpacas, donkeys, goats and birds. A respite care facility opened in 2004, supporting families and giving children the change for an extended stay.

The farm was the brainchild of founder Tim Grundy, who’s life changed when he made a donation of toys to a local children’s centre in 1985. After a discussion with a member of staff, he set about raising money to purchase the farm from auction and create a centre where children could have a holiday or fun day out.

Following the purchase and refurbishment of the farm, the charity has grown from strength to strength, attracting many celebrity fans and patrons, including Sir Bobby Charlton.

“Thank you so much for the grant from the Delamere Dairy Foundation which allowed us to provide much-needed trips to CAFT for 50 families which will really makes a huge difference in the lives of these very special families.

Our services are needed now more than ever before and last year over 6000 children visited for an outdoor visit as the Families Programme continues.”