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Welcome to The Hive



"The Hive that thrives together, stays together"


AppleCast is unique in its approach to SEND, offering a wide range of inclusive activities designed to meet the individual needs of all service users.



What We Offer



AppleCast Farm has always been more than a place to spend the day. It is a community where adults with a wide range of additional needs can feel valued, capable and safe. As our group has grown, so has the diversity of strengths, challenges and aspirations within it. We now support adults with learning disabilities, autism, mental health needs, physical disabilities and complex trauma histories, each bringing their own personality, potential and individual barriers.


To meet these needs responsibly, we are proposing two clear but connected pathways:

- Work-Based Learning Pathway – for those ready to develop vocational skills, independence and progression.

- Therapeutic Care Pathway – for those who need nurture, stability and confidence-building before work goals can be considered, or for whom wellbeing rather than employment is the long-term aim.


Both pathways are equally valuable. The Therapeutic Care Pathway will act as a foundation, a place to grow and, when needed, a safety net to return to.



Understanding the People We Support



At AppleCast Farm, we support adults aged 18 and over, each with their own unique abilities, experiences and challenges. For some, the world can feel loud, busy and overwhelming. Large groups, unexpected changes and constant noise can create anxiety and make it difficult to engage. Others are eager to work and learn but struggle with confidence, communication or emotional regulation without the right support in place. Many of the adults we support need calm, routine, sensory experiences and trusted relationships before they feel safe enough to take their next steps.


By reducing group sizes from the current busy environment of around twelve people, we can create a quieter, more nurturing space where individuals feel seen, heard and understood. Smaller groups allow us to truly tailor support, respond to sensory and emotional needs, build strong and meaningful relationships, and prevent anxiety before it escalates. In these calmer settings, we can recognise and celebrate the small but powerful moments of progress that so often lead to lasting change.


This is not about lowering expectations — it is about offering the right foundations for success. Therapeutic care at AppleCast Farm is not an optional extra; for many, it is the starting point. By meeting basic needs first, offering sensory-informed support and forming genuine, trusting relationships, we give people the time and space to grow at their own pace.


AppleCast Farm remains what it has always been: a safe place, a working farm and a community where every adult, whatever their ability, is valued, supported and given the opportunity to thrive.



Creating Safe Support, Not Restrictive Care



At AppleCast Farm, safety is central to everything we do. Many of the adults we support have previously felt misunderstood or overwhelmed, so our approach to risk management focuses on understanding the individual first, not controlling behaviour.


We believe positive risk-taking is essential for growth. Activities such as caring for animals, using tools, or building independence involve risk, but when carefully planned and supported, these experiences become opportunities to learn safely and with confidence.


Each person on our Therapeutic Care Pathway has a personalised risk assessment that reflects their needs, triggers, communication preferences, early signs of anxiety, and agreed strategies that help them feel safe. These plans are developed collaboratively with individuals and, where appropriate, families and professionals, and are reviewed regularly.


We maintain small group sizes and high staff ratios to ensure close supervision, calm environments, and the ability to respond quickly to changes in emotional or physical wellbeing. Quiet, low-arousal spaces and flexible activities support emotional regulation and sensory needs.


Safeguarding at AppleCast Farm is a daily practice rooted in dignity, respect, choice, and consent. Our staff are trained to recognise concerns, respond appropriately, and work closely with families and professionals to keep people safe.


Our approach to risk management is about enabling lives, not limiting them—supporting adults to explore, learn, and thrive in a safe, respectful, and nurturing environment.



Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND)



AppleCast is unique in its work around SEND that it is the only provider that offers such a variety of activities that aim to meet the needs of all service users



Registered Charity Number: 1123401 | Registered Company Number: 05758480