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First time mother just trying to figure out where to go from here.

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North Hayne Farm Cottages – our experiences as an SEND Family

22/01/2020 by MrsSavageAngel Leave a Comment

A couple of years ago a friend shared a Facebook post from North Hayne Farm Holiday Cottages, a children’s farm they had previously visited with their family. This holiday farm with a difference, had just been awarded Autism Friendly Status by the National Autistic Society. And I was intrigued!

I think the fact that the NAS was mentioned AND the fact that the farm was in my home county of Devon (snuggled under the southern edge of Exmoor), meant it really caught my attention. I visited the website and I was immediately convinced. This was a place for us. We booked for the week over New Year (28th Dec to 4th Jan) 2018. And we loved it so much we also went back this New Year (2019).

A festive welcome waited for us at North Hayne Farm

North Hayne positions themselves as a ‘Children’s Farm’. This doesn’t mean they farm children (can you even imagine!😂) but rather that they provide accommodation and farm facilities especially for children (and their families) to experience. It was definitely a unique proposition as far as I was concerned.

The idea is simple. Provide comfortable and family friendly accommodation, alongside a small farm, which the children can immerse themselves as much as they want (or are able to cope with). And when you consider animals rely on routine, you can start to understand why such a holiday might work for all children, but in particular those with additional needs, such as Autism.

Autistic children can often struggle when going on holiday. A change in location, strange sensory experiences, a complete disregard for the usual routine; it can be too much and derail a holiday before it’s even begun. Because North Hayne feed the animals to a strict schedule twice a day, it gives the children an opportunity to put a few pillars of certainty back into their days. The idea then is that the rest of the holiday can hang off these bones.

Feeding the animals to a consistent routine allows the children some certainty in an uncertain time

I understand that might not be enough for some children, but for Oscar it was perfect. He knew that at 9 and 4 he would be feeding the animals. And always in the same order, at the insistence of the farm, meaning he knew exactly what to expect. Rabbits and Guinea Pigs first, followed by the hens, the sheep and alpacas, the goats, the pigs and finally the ducks. Always the same. When it came to our second visit he even remembered the order (and of course it hadn’t changed).

Feeding Boo the rabbit. The feeding times were one of Oscar’s favourite things to do on both our visits

The routine continues after feeding with donkey rides every morning. Oscar adored riding on Abbott or Frosty and the donkeys were so patient with the children.

A gentle ride on a donkey every morning, was a lovely way to start the day.
Oscar’s confidence around the animals grew and grew
‘Ello my love

Following every afternoon feeding, the farm offer an activity. This could be anything from having a cuddle with a guinea pig to talking Blackberry and Crumble, the farm’s friendly goats, for a walk. But as with all activities these are all advertised well in advance, to give parents chance to prepare children who may need time to process.

Grooming and walking the goats around the farm was so much fun for all the children!
The first year we visited Oscar just couldn’t slow down enough to sit and hold an animal. The following year showed just how much he’d grown.

The accommodation comes in the form of cottages, most of which are fashioned from existing farm buildings and barns (except the purpose built Jeremy Fisher cottage). Every cottage is self catering with a well appointed kitchen and there are a range of cottage sizes, accommodating from between 3 to 10 people. Some of the cottages are set over multiple floors which isn’t ideal for anyone with accessibility needs. However, there are single story cottages available and all cottages come equipped with safety gates.

Our home from home. The cars are usually parked away from the cottages for safety but can be bought right up to the cottage for access needs and unpacking.
Some of the cottages are single story, others cover three floors. All are gorgeous!

Both times we’ve visited we’ve stayed in a 6 bed cottage, which allowed us to invite friends to join us, which was just fabulous. Both cottages were over three floors which allowed us plenty of space for four adults and two children. The touch we ALL loved the most though was the hot tub! All the cottages come with their own private hot tubs and Oscar (and his visiting friends) adored splashing around in the bubbly warm water. However, there was little better than putting the kids to bed and relaxing in the evening (with some bubbles 😉 ) with your favourite grown ups. Especially when it was -2°c outside!

Every cottage has it’s own outdoor area with seating and it’s very own hot tub. A favourite with children and adults alike!
Oscar’s assessment of the facilities at North Hayne.

But the farm is more than just the animals and a place to stay. There are areas to explore, gardens to wander in and play equipment to have fun on. There’s the ‘Play Barn’; two rooms full of toys and games and books and a pool table.. And there’s space. Space to run, space to be, space to breathe. And as an SEN parent one can never underestimate the absolute importance of a friendly, understanding and safe environment.

Exploring the farm, we came across the biggest bug hotel we’d ever seen.
Space to explore

However, one of my favourite things about North Hayne was not having to explain Oscar or his needs over and over. Just knowing that we had been heard was a blessing. It was never quibbled as to whether our boy could join in the New Years craft workshop. Or whether Farmer Roger was happy to have him on the Farm Hands session (a fun two hour session learning about animal husbandry for the over 6s). Farm Hands proved to be a massive hit the first year we went. The second visit he had had enough by half way through. And that was fine too.

Oscar adored being a Farm Hand. Farmer Roger said he’d never met a child so excited to clean up poo!

The farm is, and has been, run for the past 15 years by a family team. Husband and wife Roger and Cheryl Dixon (Farmer Roger and Farmer Cheryl) work alongside their extended family to ensure guests feel like they’re visiting their own family. Welcomed and cared for. From the hug when you arrive, to the drinks and nibbles provided in the cottage, and the beauty treatments offered by their daughter in the onsite Therapy Room. You’re bought in and made to feel one of the family. Whatever your needs. It’s no wonder nearly every other guest we met was a repeat visitor.

Accommodating families with additional needs is not always the first thought of those in the hospitality industry. But places like North Hayne Farm have proved how simple it can be to make small steps towards something more understanding. We’re not the only ones to think this, at the end of 2019, North Hayne won the 2019 Visit Devon Gold award for ‘Accessible and Inclusive Tourism’. By making small changes and looking at their offering with caring eyes, Cheryl and Roger have created an amazing and unique place to visit. For everyone.

Thank you North Hayne Farm. Oscar can’t wait to come back.

We paid for our holiday ourselves and I was not asked to write this post. All opinions are my own.

You can follow North Hayne Farm Cottages on Facebook and Instagram or visit their website.

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: Autism, Family, holiday, Vacation

One gift – an update…..

04/12/2019 by MrsSavageAngel Leave a Comment

It’s finally December and if you haven’t finished already (and if you subscribe to such things) your Christmas gift buying is probably underway. I know mine is, all gifts for my nieces and nephews wrapped and posted off and those for Oscar hidden strategically around the house. Seriously, who else struggles hiding presents? I’ve taken to even hiding some in plain sight, disguised as other, less exciting things.

Anyway, if you read my last post you’ll know I’ve had one more present to buy this year. You might remember how upset my autistic seven year old was when he realised not all children were as lucky as he is at Christmas time. And that he wanted to reach out, giving a gift and making a difference in the life of another child.

I initially struggled with how best to do this, but so many people who read the post were kind enough to contact me with organisations that might be able to help.

Initially I was thrilled that so many places seem to have this kind of giving covered. However the more I thought on the subject, the more my heart broke that the need should be so great to require so many organisations to be involved. It’s certainly a sobering thought in amongst the sparkle and shine of the Christmas season.

The suggestions given were very helpful and wide ranging. From local churches and radio stations to national membership organisations and charities. There seemed to be an option to speak to everyone.

After looking at all the options Oscar and I decided to donate to our local radio station’s long running Toy Appeal. Eagle Radio collects toys every year in various locations across our county and delivers them to a diverse list of local organisations, including Women’s Shelters, Family organisations and local authority departments working with families in crisis. It seemed like a good place to start.

All that was left to do was to chose a gift. Oscar mentioned Playdoh, which was a lovely idea but I suggested something with more longevity might be better. So we settled on Lego. Of course we did. 😉

Oscar was thrilled to be donating a box of Lego.

Our closest drop off point was a local garage so all I had to do was pop down with my unwrapped present and deliver it. It was gratifying to see the box was so full already.

Oscar’s present dropped off and on it’s way

I’m so proud of my little guy. He doesn’t cope well when others receive gifts and he doesn’t, and it’s definitely something we’re consciously working on. So to give up a big box of Lego, let alone suggest doing it in the first place? Well my heart is very full.

So many people came forward when I asked for suggestions of where to donate. It was really kind of them. So I have decided to collate them below. I have looked into them as much as I can but as always if you chose to donate, I urge you to do your own research first.

  • Local commercial radio stations often run parcel appeals. My local stations are Eagle Radio (Surrey) and Spirit Radio (West Sussex)
  • Membership organisations such as The Rotary Club collect parcels to send primarily to Eastern Europe. Check with your local club
  • Charities such as the Salvation Army run a shoebox type appeal
  • Check with your local church as many of our local churches also collect presents to be distributed
  • If you prefer to donate to a more secular charity Refuge run a ‘parcel’ campaign this times of year, allowing you to donate an amount to cover items for those escaping domestic violence
  • Choose Love is a charity that allows you to buy specific items for Refugees, either arriving, sheltering or to help in their future in a new country.
  • I mentioned this in my previous post, but Action for Children are running a Secret Santa campaign, including a printable certificate for whoever the gift is given in the name of

If you are interested in donating an actual physical gift be aware most places have a cut off date, so be sure to check these. For example Eagle Radio’s Toy Appeal cut of is 15th December.

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: Autism, Charity, Christmas

The Benefits of Hiring People with Autism

25/07/2016 by MrsSavageAngel Leave a Comment

interviewThere are more than 700,000 individuals with Autism in the UK. However, less than 15% of these are in full-time employment. This is a dispiriting figure when you consider the many skills and talents autistic people have, skills which are highly beneficial in the workplace.

Autism or Autism Spectrum Disorder is not a disease or illness to be ‘cured’. The unique elements of autism are an integral part of the person’s make-up. As it is defined across a spectrum, those with a diagnosis will all experience it in a unique way. However, it often has some effect on how individuals communicate and interact with others. It is often referred to as an ‘invisible’ disability.

In 2010, The Equality Act made it unlawful for any employer to discriminate on the grounds of disability. One would hope this would have encouraged employers reassess their approach to employing those on the spectrum. However, employing those with a disability is not just a matter of filling a quota. Instead, the focus should be on the value each individual can bring to the prospective role. Autistic people have just as much to offer companies as their neurotypical colleagues. Some may be excellent problem solvers; others have outstanding concentration and memory skills; they may be able to pay great attention to detail; and be highly dependable. Surely these are traits any employer should be looking for?

While every applicant should be treated as an individual, there is common ground amongst autistic people that, when recognised by companies, can make the hiring process run much more smoothly. Things to consider:

Communication

Some individuals with autism will find understanding body language and facial expressions difficult. This can sometimes hinder communication. Be patient and clear in your communication.

Repetitive Behaviours

Autistic candidates may need the security of familiarity and routine. This is a positive trait in a working environment, but perhaps offer them an opportunity to visit the building prior to their interview to reduce anxiety.

Interaction

Interaction concerns how individuals with autism behave in the presence of others. For example, when concentrating or anxious about something they may sometimes appear withdrawn or insensitive. This can appear rude, but in reality is the result of misunderstanding, potential on both sides. Do not jump to conclusions and be conscious of potential for misinterpretation.

The Interview Process

People with autism can sometimes develop a keen interest in a particular subject and become hugely knowledgeable about it. If you can discover what this interest is during the interview, and encourage the candidate to talk about it, it can help put them at ease.

Sometimes jokes and sarcasm are not understood well by individuals with autism. Therefore, be straightforward and express yourself clearly. Also, if there are gaps in the conversation don’t rush in to fill the silence. The candidate may just need a little longer to formulate their response.

The Induction Process

Once an autistic individual has been hired, there are a few simple steps that can make their first few days as positive an experience as possible.

  • Send induction material to the new employee early so they can take the time to read through and absorb it before they start. This will help to lessen first day nerves.
  • If possible, try to seat the person away from noise or people passing by regularly, as this can be unsettling. It’s also important to build structure into the day so individuals know what to expect.
  • People with autism can be perfectionists so it’s important to give regular feedback on how things are going and provide reassurance where necessary.

Individuals with autism can have very strong skills in particular areas, often outperforming their peers in these capacities. It’s important therefore to tap into these strengths and allow the employee the freedom to utilise their skill-set within the working environment. When this happens employers are able to increase there understanding of Autism and recognise what a valuable asset the individual is to their business.

For more information click here.

Filed Under: Autism, Personal, Uncategorized Tagged With: Autism, Autistic, disability, Employers, Employing, recruitment

How to begin?

07/07/2013 by MrsSavageAngel Leave a Comment

So here is my blog and its difficult to know how to start. Maybe I need to do more research or maybe I should just start with why I wanted a blog in the first place.

I have been thinking about doing something for a while. I have, what seems like hundreds, of ideas floating (/whizzing) about in my head, and initially I thought of keeping a journal. I used to keep one in my late teens, but this isn’t really about teenage angst and anyway I should join the 21st Century man! So a blog it shall be.

I won’t go into who I am. I’ll do a separate page for that, but suffice to say I’m a 34 year old mother of one little fireball of a son. I don’t work at the moment and I’m not really sure where I go from here.

Stopping work was never really in my plans, even after having Oscar so somehow I’ve found myself here not really knowing how to move forward but not wanting to waste either of our lives or the time we get to spend together. Hmmm it’s a tricky one.

Plus as typing on anything other than my phone when Os around is impossible (and I mean impossible he’s technology obsessed and going through a phase of throwing massive tantrums when not allowed something, like the keyboard) it is likely posts might be sporadic to start with. Maybe I need a laptop hmmmm. So anyway here goes…

Filed Under: Uncategorized

Here we go………

03/07/2013 by MrsSavageAngel Leave a Comment

The very first one. Will probably delete this later. Or maybe not, maybe I’ll leave it for posterity and then I’ll look back in years to come and chuckle to myself. Or not. Whatever.

Filed Under: Uncategorized

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Oscar’s party was a roaring success. The cousins Oscar’s party was a roaring success. The cousins all came and played together like they were best of friends, the Minecraft themed food was devoured, the castle was bounced to within an inch of its life, the grown ups chatted and most of all the boy had the best day! And now I’m so exhausted I’m off to bed. Thank you to the family (and chosen family) who helped make it such a special day for our special little guy. #whenoscarturnedten #happybirthday #familypartiesarethebest
Ten years old. Where has that decade gone? He’s Ten years old. Where has that decade gone? He’s ten years old. I’m ten years older. Sometimes it feels like we’re growing up together! Happy birthday beautiful boy. And Happy Birthing Day to me. 🥰
It’s that time of year again when I lay all his It’s that time of year again when I lay all his presents out and say I’m ready for him to be another year older and then quip that I am NEVER ready for him to be another year older. But 10 man? I don’t know, it feels so… significant. Double digits, a decade, it somehow feels different from all the other birthdays. I can’t quite believe it tbh. Anyway as he’s having his birthday here (tomorrow) but his party in Plymouth next Saturday it has been decreed it’s his birthday all week. And what with the grand age he’s turning, I think that sounds perfectly appropriate.
Breakfast in bed (toast and a makeshift cloche - w Breakfast in bed (toast and a makeshift cloche - we fancy!) and three cards and a sunflower he planted from seed at school 😱! Now off out for lunch. Very much a Happy Mothers Day to me! And to all the mamas I know. May you be treated like Kweens today!
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