Ambitious North East Autism Society development enters phase two
Part of our ongoing Growing Futures appeal, the second phase of development will see several new buildings erected – including a cider mill, a farm shop, and a café.
Autism Acceptance in action at charity's farm
Work is about to start on the transformation of a 77-acre farm into a visitor attraction and training hub for hundreds of autistic and neurodivergent people in the North East.
The North East Autism Society hopes to provide up to 70 placements a year at New Warlands Farm in County Durham by creating a restaurant, farm shop, cider press, workshops and sustainable farm.
And the charity is raising vital funds for the £4.4m scheme this World Autism Acceptance Month with a host of events for businesses and the public.
NEAS chief executive, John Phillipson, said: “We are at the stage where the vision for New Warlands Farm is becoming an exciting reality. The pieces are falling in place, and we are ready to see the building work begin.
“It will be a place where autistic and neurodivergent people can train for jobs in a variety of disciplines, not just agriculture and horticulture, but retail, hospitality, and administration.
“Our message this World Autism Acceptance Month is that acceptance should be everywhere – and the farm will show what that looks like in action.”
Just three in 10 autistic people are in paid employment in the UK, one of the lowest rates of any disability group, and NEAS is determined to improve that figure.
Placements have already begun at New Warlands to plant a shelter belt of native trees on the farm. One of the participants, Joseph Going, from Newcastle, said: “I’ve loved all the outdoor tasks, and it’s nice working with other people. It’s really helped my confidence and made me enthusiastic about doing more work like this.”
Fellow trainee Connor Cook, also from Newcastle, said: “I struggled in my other jobs but being on the farm and learning new skills really suits me.
“Not many people get the experience of working on the farm, and so many different opportunities are going to be created here, so I hope people and businesses get behind the campaign.”
NEAS is asking members of the public to help raise funds by joining their Walk for Acceptance on April 25, taking part in a 1k-a-day Facebook challenge, or organising their own sponsored events.
The charity has also appealed to businesses to support its appeal – called Growing Futures – with donations, events, or gifts in kind. The appeal got off to a flying start with a £500,000 pledge from business leader Sir Peter Vardy, who said:
“I believe passionately in what NEAS is doing, and I’m appealing to other businesses to support the project because it is so special."
Now Turner & Townsend has been appointed as project managers, with the Mulberry Construction Group chosen as developers. The building work will take 32 weeks to complete.
NEAS is in partnership discussions with companies including Ringtons and Northumbrian Pantry, while other businesses have offered services in kind around utilities, solar panels and fitouts.
World renowned artist Mackenzie Thorpe, a proud patron of the charity, will be involved in design work at the farm, and an artistic element will be built into the Growing Futures appeal to be revealed during World Autism Acceptance Month.
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