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Princess Christian’s Farm has been saved from closure.
The Kent County Council (KCC) facility in Hildenborough, set in more than 116 acres, provides regular support for up to 25 adults per day, providing a person-centred environment for people with vulnerabilities to improve their skills in caring for animals and horticulture.
The centre had been scheduled for closure after Hadlow College, who previously managed the service for KCC, announced it was pulling out when its contract expired.
This prompting outrage and despair by parents of its users. Hadlow College had earlier gone into administration itself and had been taken over by North Kent College, which then took the decision to concentrate on providing education rather than "adult social care."
But now KCC has found a new charity to take on the management of Princess Christian. It is the Kent Association for Spina Bifida and Hydrocephalus, (KASBAH) who will take over the service on November 1.
Hadlow has agreed to continue to run the service until the handover.
Clair Bell, the KCC cabinet member for adult social care and public health, said: “I am delighted that KASBAH has been successful in its bid to manage Princess Christian’s Farm.
"I know how much our residents supported the farm and I am confident that KASBAH will continue to build on the success of this service and help those who attend the facility to become more independent in these unique surroundings in the future.”
Emma Carver is the chief executive officer of KASBAH. She said: "We are thrilled to be taking over Princess Christian's Farm and to enhance all of the great work already in place, so please watch this space and if you would like to get involved the farm’s future development, please do give us a call."
The farm in Riding Lane was originally founded by Queen Victoria's daughter, Princess Christian, in 1910. It passed into the hands of KCC's social services in 1984. But in 2009 the authority out-sourced the running of the farm to Hadlow College.
For more information about KASBAH and its services click here.
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