Kent County Council (KCC) is pleased to announce that a new provider has won the contract to provide services to disabled people at the much-loved Princess Christian’s Farm and it will remain open in the future.

Princess Christian’s Farm helps people gain new skills

KASBAH (Kent Association for Spina Bifida and Hydrocephalus) will take over management of the service on 1 November. The charity is open to any disabled person in Kent and currently provides a wide range of support services to meet individual needs and promote independence.

KASBAH brings a wealth of skills, knowledge and experience for the people who access Princess Christian’s Farm.

Set over 116 acres of stunning pasture and woodland in Hildenborough, Princess Christian’s Farm regularly supports up to 25 adults per day providing a person-centred environment for people with vulnerabilities to improve a multitude of skills in a land-based setting, including caring for animals and horticulture, and going forward, the addition of daily living skills.

The Farm was previously managed by Hadlow College however, after entering a process of Educational Administration in 2019-2020, they were taken over by North Kent College. This year the college took the difficult decision to concentrate the new Hadlow College’s efforts on providing education rather than adult social care and to pull back from additional aspects that the College was previously involved with, including the management of Princess Christian’s Farm.

Princess Christian’s Farm will remain open and run by North Kent College until the management is transferred to KASBAH.

Clair Bell, 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 learn new skills and become more independent in these unique surroundings in the future.”

Emma Carver, Chief Executive Officer of KASBAH said: “We are thrilled to be taking over Princess Christian’s Farm and 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.”

For more information about KASBAH and its services visit www.kasbah.org.uk/about-us