Little Gate Farm Covid-19 Appeal

Little Gate Farm COVID-19 Appeal

Little Gate supports people with Learning Disabilities & Autism into paid employment so they can live happy fulfilled lives.  

We support some of the most vulnerable and isolated young adults with learning disabilities in our area of East Sussex.  

Little Gate Farm has become a life line to these young people. 

Without access to the farm, these vulnerable young people with learning disabilities will be isolated, face financial hardships, a lack of structure and social contact will put their physical and mental health at risk.

Due to the uncertain times enforced by the COVID-19, Little Gate Farm finds itself in an unprecedented situation.  

We are now facing the following challenges:

• Closure of our premises  For the safety of our beneficiaries and staff, we have had to close our doors to our service users.
• Access to Work Payments  We rely heavily on Access to Work payments for out Work Trainees and Apprentices.   The Access to Work payments will not processed to the time being.
• Trusts and Foundations. With a drop in interest rates affecting investments, grant panels either being cancelled or postponed, we will see a delay in our applications being processed and assessed
• Donations   We will see a drop in donations, as people’s livelihoods are being affected by the uncertainty of the coronavirus.

These factors are contributing to a struggle to maintain our services and support to our beneficiaries.

Our dedicated Job coaches and project workers are working to provide the following to keep structure and maintain contact for this at risk group of young people at this uncertain time

• Online Training Videos

To continue to provide work training, our project leaders are working on videos to show household and work-orientated tasks. For example, cooking a simple yet nutritious meal.

• Zoom/Skype Contact Sessions

Our Job coaches will carry on delivery support remotely, For example Interview skills, and social skills workshops

• Regular/daily 1-2-1 telephone calls

Some work trainees don’t have access to laptops or tablets, so our Job Coaches and Staff will be checking in on all of our beneficiaries to ensure that they are coping during these uncertain times.  It is important for our work trainees that they know that Little Gate Farm is still here for them.

• Work training and information packs 

Packs are being created by our dedicated team. The packs will contain social stories and information to help the Learning-Disabled people how to cope in this situation. Recipes and work training work sheets will also be included.

• Home seed growing kits

To try and promote well-being, we are providing seed growing kits.  This will help them to focus on something else for just a little time a day.

• Supplies drop-off

Many of our beneficiaries have serious underlying health conditions, so need to self-isolate. Others, may need to quarantine. Our staff are making sure that those in need have all the food and essential supplies.

During this uncertain time, we still need to pay rent, utilities and staff salaries, we face a period of restricted funding.  Little Gate Farm has become an essential resource and support to our local Learning-Disabled community and their families.

Please help us to survive through this tumultuous time to continue the valuable work that we do.

Thank you!