Strode Park Foundation (originally called Cripplecraft) purchased Strode Park House from Major Prescott-Westcarr to provide a home and meaningful occupation to young adults with disabilities.

Toys made by the residents (or ‘Troops’ as they were known) were sold in Selfridges.

Theatrecraft hosted one of their first shows for the residents ‘Sailor Beware!’.

The new dormitory wing ‘The Basil Jones Wing’ was completed, and named after the former Chairman.

A new coach was purchased and the Council members shared that it was proving very useful for outings.

Celebrity, Rod Hull and Emu, opened our annual fete, which raised £2,325.

The ‘Rees Patton Wing’ opened at Strode Park House.

The Coach House and The Stable Block were converted for residents.

The Porter Club House opened.

We leased land to Sanctuary Housing to build supported living on Orchard Court, and ten bungalows were built.

Residents met Queen Elizabeth II at Canterbury Cathedral.

Major expansion completed on the Ben Thompson Hall Day Centre.

We launched COMCARE, a service that supports people with disabilities in their own homes – Kent’s first-ever service to do so.

Sir Terry Waite CBE became patron of Strode Park Foundation.

The Coach House Vocational Training Centre opened.

The Lodge Independent Living Centre opened.

The Coach House was officially opened by Countess Mountbatten.

The Rees Wing single room accommodation opened.

The first open-air theatre for people with disabilities in the country was opened, named ‘Theatre in the Park’.

We successfully achieved funding for purpose-built supported living to replace the static caravans, with grants from The Freemason’s Charity and from the National Lottery.

We were accredited to provide ASDAN Life skills training for Lifestyles Community Services.

Following an impressive bid, we were given National Lottery Heritage funding for Strode Park House’s roof repairs, work to the Victorian walkway, rendering brickwork, and new glass-engraved lanterns in the dining room.

Canterbury Cathedral organised a Stone Carving Festival and with the help of 78 international stone masons, a glorious fountain was placed at Strode Park House.

Our clients and residents worked in partnership with the Minster Museum of Rual Life to run ‘The Abbey Cafe’.

We celebrated our 60th anniversary!

We raised almost £1 million and were able to open the new ReAbility Wing, which won the accolade for the ‘Best Design For A Health & Care Building’ in Kent

We reconfigured the Ben Thompson Hall Day Centre (known as The RISE Hall and now called the Day Opportunities centre).

A new facility was completed, including a large physiotherapy suite, a fully equipped therapy kitchen and bathroom, a large seminar and activities room, and several multi-purpose consultancy rooms.

The ReAbility project hosted an outreach NHS Driving Assessment Centre that helped people to regain their driving licence.

We took over Footprints and Redwalls, based in Canterbury, which were previously managed by Kent Kids and provided services for children aged 5 – 16 years.

The Theatre’s new Green Room reopened in June following a devastating fire in 2010.

We were thrilled that Amanda Cottrell OBE became our co-patron with Sir Terry Waite CBE.

We won a contract to deliver supported living to encourage independence.

Following intense competition, Strode Park Foundation was successful in achieving a Medway Council contract to take over Platters Farm Lodge in Rainham, which included a day service, a 43-bed residential facility for people requiring respite and rehabilitation, including a specialist dementia service.

Our first residents moved into the supported living facilities at the Coach House Mews.

Our ‘Hydrotherapy Pool Appeal’ campaign successfully raised £250,000 for a therapeutic suite. We also widened the corridor and created a graduating slope at Strode Park House.

We opened our charity shop in Bank Street, Herne Bay.

Theatre in the Park celebrated 25 years of entertaining.

We launched our Footprints ‘Space to Play’ appeal to raise £130,000 for an indoor activities and play room, sensory room, and refurbishment of two respite rooms.

Renovation work to our supported living facility at North Lodge was completed to allow use of modern electric wheelchairs.

Our sensory spa garden at Strode Park House was fully landscaped and planted.

We celebrated the completion of a £17,000 refurbishment of the grand lounge in Strode Park House.

In October, we took over the ownership and management of the Fynvola Foundation, which included the Faversham home, Lady Dane Farmhouse.

The ‘Space to Play’ project at Footprints was opened.

The pandemic hit, and the challenges with Covid-19 were unprecedented – not one of the 400 people supported by the Foundation passed away as a result of contracting Covid-19 at any of our services. Platters Farm Lodge was the only service in Kent and Medway to be recognised as a ‘Designated Specialist Service For Covid-19’.

Our holiday bungalows were redesigned to provide further supported living accommodation.

We had major investment in buildings and equipment (largely due to Covid-19 grants), which includes installation of 40+ overhead hoists at Strode Park House and the Coach House, relocation and enhancement of the sensory room at Lady Dane Farmhouse, replacement of aging window frames at Strode Park House, and upgraded epilepsy night monitoring kits.

The Coach House opened its new sensory room with long-standing supporters and fundraisers, Copper Pottle (which is a micro pub in Beltinge, Herne Bay).

We are celebrating 80 years of caring!

Lady Dane Farmhouse achieved an ‘Outstanding’ CQC rating.