City & Guilds success at Canterbury Oast Trust!

Published: 30 November 2013

The Canterbury Oast Trust (COT) team gathered today to celebrate the City & Guild examination success of over 40 hard-working students with a learning disability.  Forty four certificates were awarded in front of proud parents and tutors, Care Managers and Trustees and was followed up with a celebratory lunch .

Gill Gibb, CEO of COT, said ‘ It is always a proud moment when we are able to recognise the examination successes of our students who work so hard with their tutors to gain these externally recognised qualifications to the same high standards as everyone else who works towards them. Having a learning disability is no barrier to development and ultimately aspiring to get employment.’

Students study for City & Guilds - Skills in Working Life in areas such as agricultural animals, horse care, conservation and poultry- all at the popular Woodchurch based tourist attraction the Rare Breeds Centre, owned and operated by COT to provide real opportunities to develop Life-skills and interact with the public. Other qualifications are in hospitality and catering with students studying and working at the Granary Restaurant sited at the Rare Breeds Centre and the Coterie Tea-rooms in Rye. Woodworking skills are taught at COT’s 30 acre nature reserve at Poulton Wood, just outside the village of Aldington where IT, numeracy and literacy is also taught in a college environment.

Our aim is to equip adults with a learning disability with externally recognised qualifications, earned in real-life situations,  with a view to them gaining external work experience and ultimately paid employment. Please contact COT on 01233 861493 if you feel you can offer work experience or even paid employment to an adult with a learning disability who has worked so hard to get this far.