A 'tree'mendous charity receives Brewers donation

September 4th, 2017

Over 100 residents are housed in 18 trust-owned properties across Kent and East Sussex thanks to ground-breaking residential and community care providers Canterbury Oast Trust (COT). Canterbury Oast Trust (COT) is a charity supporting adults with learning disabilities across Kent and East Sussex helping them to live independently and take control of their lives.

Established in 1985 by a small group of parents striving to provide a higher level of care for their disabled children, the charity began from a small rented property in Canterbury housing just 3 residents now expanding to over 100 residents in 2017.

Brewers donated £2000 to COT to purchase a mobile sawmill to create oak boards for future woodwork projects
Brewers donated £2000 to COT to purchase a mobile sawmill to create oak boards for future woodwork projects

Not only does the charity provide both long and short term accommodation but also job opportunities and life skill preparation encouraging interaction with the public and providing quality education and training.

These opportunities are created by COT projects including the South of England Rare Breeds Centre where residents learn animal husbandry, Art at the Farm pottery, ceramics and textile products are made and sold, plus the Poulton Wood conservation project which teaches the Poulton Wood Rangers traditional coppice management skills, nature studies, horticulture and practical conservation.

Brewers previously donated £10,000 to Canterbury Oast Trust (COT) in 2004 creating a new art and hand crafts facility

In its centenary year 2004, Brewers supported COT by donating £10,000 to create a new art and hand crafts facility and since then the charity has continued to be a beneficiary of Brewers’ philanthropy.

The spring edition of COT’s In Touch magazine contained an article about a proposed mission at Poulton Wood to turn oak trunks created by woodland management work, into boards for use as raw materials in future woodwork projects. The charity were looking to create funds to purchase a mobile sawmill. The project particularly appealed to Brewers due to its ‘green’ nature fitting with many of Brewers’ views and a charity which we have had a long relationship.

Nick Brewer, his wife Catherine and new puppy Emma visited the Poulton Wood site to present a cheque of £2,000 to Canterbury Oast Trust to purchase a mobile sawmill. COT’s laid on a sausage sizzle lunch in the woods to celebrate!

Find out more about the charity at www.c-o-t.org.uk or check out the latest on Facebook and Twitter

Canterbury Oast Trust (COT) support adults with learning disabilities across Kent and East Sussex