Driving innovation through enterprise
As a social business, we rely on generating revenue outside of our course activities to provide the additional resource required to continually drive innovation across our services. By developing our farming, hospitality and craft activities to maximise the revenue-generation potential of our three sites, we not only manage to generate much needed additional funding, but are able to offer real-world work experience to the students attending our day and residential services. Find out more about our social enterprise activities below.
With both pedigree and beef cattle on site, a purpose-built calf rearing unit, a flock of goats and arable land farmed for feed purposes, our farming activities offer a multitude of training and work opportunities for students.
Not only do these activities benefit students, but they also provide a vibrant trading enterprise that underpins much of the innovation we undertake in our service design.
Our hospitality enterprise takes advantage of the incredible setting that Willowdene has, together with the flexible and multi-use facilities we provide.
From small, intimate events to large-scale conferences, we provide a professional and unique experience for anyone wishing to host an event that will leave a lasting impression on their guests.
In addition to the income that our hospitality services generate, they also provide opportunities for students to gain training and experience in front-of-house, catering and retail activities.
Whether it’s Christmas reindeer made from wood taken from our woodland, sculptures welded from used horseshoes, birdboxes, garden benches, or decorations crafted out of recycled materials, our residential and day students have the opportunity to express their creativity as part of the therapeutic process we offer.
In addition to being an item they can take home as a reminder of their time at Willowdene, students also produce items for resale, which helps to ensure that the students who follow in their footsteps are able to benefit from the same opportunities they did.
Find out more about our work
If you would like to find out more about our social enterprise activities, or have an interest in supporting our activities as a volunteer, please contact us on (01746) 718658, or complete the contact form below.