Hope Nature Centre is a popular visitor attraction in the form of an animal park and café, which is in Trowbridge, Wiltshire.
The centre is part of the Fairfield Farm Trust, comprising of a specialist college known as Fairfield Farm College for students with learning disabilities and Hope Nature Centre.
26-acre site
The College is situated in the village of Dilton Marsh in Wiltshire. The 26-acre farm site includes well-resourced teaching areas, a student common room, conference room, café and a farm shop. The goal of our trainee programme at Hope Nature Centre is to give young adults with learning disabilities the experience and confidence to obtain paid or voluntary employment.
Cafe and animal park teams
When trainees work at Hope Nature Centre, they can be part of the café or animal park team. In the café, trainees learn about preparing food and food hygiene, Health and Safety in the kitchen, communication skills and customer care. Trainees get the opportunity to serve behind the counter, take orders from customers, use the till and prepare food orders.
Trainees who work within the animal park learn how to look after a wide variety of small and larger animals, undertake tasks across the 15-acre site and learn about Health & Safety practices. Trainees also learn general maintenance skills for the animal park, including painting, fencing, hedging and ground maintenance.
Safe and stimulating opportunities
Hope Nature Centre currently provides placements for approximately 30 individual adults with learning disabilities who engage in facilitated training specially designed to provide safe and stimulating day opportunities and employment support placements.
These young adults (over 18 years old) are usually in placements for one year initially. We work with schools on our School Link Programmes, as well as other local colleges, training providers, Wiltshire Council, as well as individuals.
