The Children’s Adventure Farm Trust (CAFT) is a truly a remarkable organisation based on a 10-acre site in the heart of the Cheshire countryside, where a 17th century farmhouse has been transformed into a place of joy, respite and adventure for children who are living with illness, disability or profound social disadvantage.

A charity that has grown into a vital regional lifeline, CAFT provides free holidays, activity days and carefully designed experiences that allow children simply to be children, offering them moments of happiness that sit outside the pressures of daily life and creating an environment where play, confidence and imagination are encouraged in equal measure.

The setting itself feels restorative, as it’s surrounded by fields, woodland paths, sensory spaces and inclusive facilities that allow children with all levels of ability to take part fully and without limitation, but what really makes CAFT’s work most extraordinary is the scale at which it operates.

In 2024 alone the charity supported 1,021 children with a holiday at the farm and delivered 14,791 day visit experiences, which together represent thousands of family stories shaped by fresh air, new friendships and the chance to explore a safe and welcoming environment that many of these children have never had access to before.

Each visit requires thoughtful planning, from activity coordination and accommodation, through to catering, logistics and specialist support, and it is this meticulous approach that allows CAFT to offer high impact, highly personalised experiences at no cost to the families who need them.

Behind those experiences sits a financial reality that speaks to the dedication of the organisation. This is because CAFT isn’t eligible for statutory funding and relies entirely on voluntary contributions to keep its programmes running, which involves raising funds through donations, community fundraising, grants and corporate partnerships.

But to us, our partnership between S&G Response and CAFT isn’t just a seasonal act of giving, it’s a long term commitment to a charity whose values align closely with our own, particularly through the belief that organisations have a responsibility to strengthen the communities they work within and to use their resources in ways that create positive and lasting social impact. For our teams at S&G, the relationship with CAFT provides opportunities to participate in something meaningful, whether through fundraising, volunteering, seasonal collection drives, or our Golf Days which have become our largest single fundraising activity, that bring colleagues, partners and suppliers together in a shared effort towards funding CAFT’s holiday programmes, accessible activity days and specialist support services

This collective effort becomes especially visible at Christmas, a period when CAFT’s activity reaches its peak and the organisation welcomes thousands of children for festive visits filled with stories, crafts, outdoor play, sensory experiences and magical moments that many families would otherwise be unable to provide, and last year, our Christmas appeal gathered more than 1,700 gifts – a testament to the generosity of everyone involved and a demonstration of how a coordinated companywide campaign can translate directly into joy for children who may be navigating difficult circumstances.

For CAFT, these gifts are symbols of connection and community which offer families reassurance that they’re supported, valued and never forgotten, and our partnership with them resonates deeply within S&G because it grounds corporate responsibility in something human and immediate, allowing employees to see the real world impact of their support through photographs, stories and sometimes the simple knowledge that a child had the chance to laugh freely in a place designed entirely for their happiness.

It also offers a sense of clarity and purpose, reminding everyone within the business why community investment matters and why choosing the right partner can amplify the meaning of every initiative undertaken. Plus, from an organisational perspective, supporting CAFT also reflects well on our commitment to ethical practice and long term community engagement, as our clients and partners can see that we invest our time and resources into causes with authentic local relevance and demonstrable impact, strengthening confidence in our values and reinforces our reputation as a business that stands behind its principles.

For CAFT, the longevity of our partnership also allows them to plan ahead with greater certainty, ensuring that programmes like accessible outdoor play, sensory gardens, animal experiences and residential holidays can continue to grow year on year.

And so, as the festive period unfolds, our entire team at S&G Response are proud to champion The Children’s Adventure Farm Trust, celebrating a partnership built on shared goals, mutual respect and a deep belief in the power of positive experiences to shape childhood futures.

CAFT’s work shows that joy can be created even in the most challenging circumstances and that every child deserves the chance to explore, laugh and feel free in a place designed just for them, and it’s an honour to partner alongside them to help make that happen.

If you would like to learn more about CAFT or explore ways to support their work with us, we would be delighted to share more.

Reach out today.