The Fifth Trust

The Fifth Trust is a Kent-based charity that supports adults with learning disabilities from the age of 16. We provide a day care service for around 170 students at two skills centres in the beautiful Elham Valley near Canterbury, offering a huge range of activities and opportunities. including art and design, catering, horticulture, music, photography, pottery, and woodwork. Their creative work, such as photographic prints, ceramics and greeting cards, is available to buy on-site and in our online shop. We take a person-centred approach, which means shaping what we offer and the way we work around each individual. This approach applies equally to our staff, who are encouraged to develop their own skills and experience across the organisation.

We also operate social enterprises – Vineyard Garden Centre and Vineyard Café  – to raise additional revenue on top of the student fees we receive from Kent County Council, other local authorities, and private payments. Our students play an active role in these enterprises, growing plant stock for the garden centre and vegetables for the café kitchen; making delicious chutneys and jams, scones and cakes; and helping to prepare meals and serve customers. They also work in the local community as members of our log delivery and garden maintenance teams.

Volunteers play an essential role in our day care service. Individual volunteers can make a big difference, by sharing their skills in an activity session, or accompanying students on outings which might not be able to go ahead without additional helpers. We also host small and large groups of corporate volunteers, who tackle jobs in the vineyard and social enterprises and help keep our skills centres looking their best.