On Friday Saqib paid a visit to Spencer’s Retreat Care Farm, located in Balsall Common, a charity farm formed to support young people with special educational needs and their parents.
Spencer's Retreat is part of the Langdale Trust, formed in 1966 to support vulnerable adults and families in the West Midlands and Warwickshire.
Saqib commented "I chatted to the trustees of the charity who walked me through the day to day on-goings at the Farm, which has rapidly developed over the last few years and now boasts an impressive number of outdoor activities and farm animals (including a rather snappy horse!)
I was also pleased to hear about the strong partnerships the charity has formed with businesses around the West Midlands. These business relationships have allowed the farm to develop in ways they would otherwise not have the resources to do, an example of this is Jaguar Land Rover installing state of the art lighting across the facilities and funding the construction of a new toilet block.
I understand that the national picture around SEN provision has changed and the need for outlets like Spencer’s Retreat are now more important than ever, with a dramatic uptick in SEN provision being sought after by parents and that is why I will continue to bang the drum for Government to provide additional support and funding for vital resources to support children, families and teachers alike.
Thank you to the amazing team at Spencer’s Retreat for all the fantastic work you do and for the kind invitation to come and visit. I look forward to watching the farm continue to grow and develop over the years to come."
