Little Gate Farm

03/06/2026

Bertie has been working hard across two roles at Eastbourne Borough Council, splitting his time between the Printing Department and the Cyber and Digital Team. Taking on two different departments has meant learning lots of new processes, systems and skills, and Bertie has risen to the challenge brilliantly.

In the Cyber and Digital Team, Bertie has been involved in a variety of technical tasks including laptop set-up, ID badge printing, helping to install large smart screens, and troubleshooting equipment. His attention to detail and organised approach have been invaluable, with Bertie creating detailed spreadsheets and instruction documents to support both himself and future team members.

The team shared:
💬 "Bertie has been very thorough and has engaged well with the tasks so far. He has created his own methods for some tasks and is learning our systems too."

Meanwhile, in the Printing Department, Bertie has learnt to use a range of specialist equipment, including laminators, printers and an ID badge-making machine. He has also helped produce staff and taxi driver badges, collate documents and newsletters, and work on creative design projects.

Bertie shared:
💬 "My favourite task in the printing department has been designing the menus and vouchers. Claire has been really encouraging and has allowed me to use my creative skills which I enjoy".

Claire from the Printing Department said:
💬 "Bertie has enjoyed being part of our Printing Team, and has carried out many different tasks-hands on tasks in the print room and computer work in the studio. We have given him some design jobs where he has followed the briefs or what is desired from our customers, and he has followed the tasks through to a final product"

His Job Coach added:
💬 "It has been wonderful to see Bertie rise to the challenges in the varied roles and to adapt to two new teams at once. He has quickly learnt to be systematic and efficient, and to carefully check his work. He has thrived when doing the creative tasks and has proved himself to be a useful and valuable team member".

Well done, Bertie! We're excited to see you continue to develop your skills and confidence in both roles. 👏

03/06/2026

A huge thank you to Lightning Fibre for their support to enable us to have a stand and take 11 students to The Big Futures Show 2026!

We were pleased to support Little Gate Farm's College involvement in The BIG Futures Show 2026 at Eastbourne Sports Park. 🌟

The annual event gave 11 students from the Future Ready programme the opportunity to meet employers, explore career pathways and learn more about opportunities across Sussex.

We also sponsored Little Gate’s exhibition stand, helping the charity showcase its valuable work supporting young people with learning disabilities and autism into employment and training.

The students also had the opportunity to meet Mayor of Eastbourne Cllr Margaret Bannister, during the event.

Read more about the day in our blog:
https://www.lightningfibre.co.uk/blog/lightning-fibre-supports-little-gate-college-at-the-big-futures-show

02/06/2026

🎉 ONE lucky winner will take home EVERY prize in our Summer in a Barrow raffle! 🎉

That's right – this isn't a prize draw with multiple winners. One lucky person will win the entire collection of fantastic prizes! 🤩

👉 Swipe to the second slide to see everything that's up for grabs - with more prizes still being added!!

From experiences and vouchers to treats and local goodies, there's an incredible prize package waiting to be won – all while supporting Little Gate's work helping people with learning disabilities, autism or both into paid employment.

🎟️ Get your tickets here:
https://go.eventgroovefundraising.com/littlegatesummerinabarrow

Good luck, and thank you for supporting Little Gate! 💚

Lastly, a HUGE thank you to all of our amazing supporters who have generously donated prizes!

01/06/2026

🌟 Happy Volunteers' Week! 🌟

This week, we're celebrating the incredible volunteers who give their time, energy and skills to support Little Gate.

From helping in our gardens and flower fields to supporting events, fundraising activities and day-to-day operations, our volunteers and trustees play a vital role in creating opportunities for adults with Learning Disabilities, Autism or both, to learn, grow and thrive.

Their dedication, kindness and enthusiasm make a real difference, and we couldn't do what we do without them!

To every one of our volunteers and trustees – thank you for being part of the Little Gate community and for everything you do. 💚

If you'd like to volunteer at Little Gate, please do get in touch to find out more - [email protected]

28/05/2026

Welcoming new talent and celebrating journeys 💫

We’re delighted to welcome David, our new Job Coach, to the Supported Apprenticeship Programme. As part of his induction, he spent time with Dominic, who is supporting administration in the HR team at Hastings Borough Council.

Dominic shared his journey with Little Gate, from completing our foundation employability and life skill courses, LEAPS and SKILLUP to exploring different roles with local employers before choosing business administration.

It was fantastic to hear Dominic speak so confidently about his progress. A big thank you to Hastings Borough Council and the HR team for being such a supportive employer and creating an environment where individuals can thrive.

📍 Pictured: Dominic and David at Hastings Borough Council, with the seafront in the background.

Want to learn more about our Supported Apprenticeship Programme? Visit our website - https://www.littlegate.org.uk/what-we-do/employers/apprenticeships/

27/05/2026

Little Gate College Aspire Student Holly is really flourishing in her placement at the historic The Mermaid Inn Rye!🌸

Completely new to the world of hospitality, Holly was initially hesitant about taking part in customer-facing tasks. However, after gradually building confidence during previous placements, Holly has stepped into the busy and fast-paced environment at The Mermaid Inn with determination and positivity.

Together, Holly and her Job Coach Georgia have found ways to create structure and routine within the working day, helping Holly feel comfortable and confident in her learning. Holly is now familiar with both the kitchen and Front of House areas - something she is “extremely proud of”!

After mastering several back-of-house responsibilities, Holly has now started shadowing the waiting staff as they serve tables and run orders. Manager Steven praised Holly’s progress, sharing: “Holly is extremely capable and is learning quickly.”

“The Mermaid have been so supportive of Holly’s additional needs during this placement,” says Job Coach Georgia. “Holly is provided with a quiet space to complete general tasks upon arrival, which allows her to integrate into things at a more comfortable pace. By the end of the day, she is thriving in the busy environment!” 👏

26/05/2026

At the farm, we’ve now been running our official workshop groups for 6 months! 🌱👏

These sessions allow our work trainees to build important personal, life and work skills that can’t always be learned out on the farm. Through activities, discussions, videos and off-site visits, trainees explore topics that help prepare them for greater independence and the workplace.

Recently, some of our trainees have been taking part in an online safety workshop, learning about digital footprints, account safety, online relationships, hate speech and how to spot fake content online. 💻

Chloe shared:
“What I’ve found useful is even though social media is good, it may not always be trustworthy!”

Laura said:
“It is important to know what to keep private, to keep ourselves safe!”

We’re so proud of the confidence, awareness and understanding our trainees continue to develop through these workshops. 💚

25/05/2026

☀️ Our Summer in a Barrow raffle is in full swing! ☀️

Have you got your tickets yet? 🎟️

There are some fantastic prizes up for grabs, all while supporting Little Gate and helping adults and young people with learning disabilities, autism or both, access training, opportunities and paid employment. 💚

You can buy tickets online or come and see us at the New Style Events Summer Fair next week, where we’ll also be selling raffle tickets in person!

Every ticket makes a difference - and you might just be our lucky winner! ✨

Grab your tickets here: https://go.eventgroovefundraising.com/littlegatesummerinabarrow

23/05/2026

From Young Ranger to College student, and now a valued work trainee at Little Gate Farm, Elisha has been part of the Little Gate journey for many years 💚

We’re so proud to see Elisha and her mum Marissa taking on Race for Life together in support of Cancer Research UK 🏃‍♀️✨

Elisha has achieved so much during her time at Little Gate, and it’s wonderful to see her taking on this challenge for such an important cause alongside her mum.

If you’re able to support their fundraising efforts, please consider donating and cheering them on every step of the way 👏💖

https://fundraise.cancerresearchuk.org/page/marisas-race-for-life-218

21/05/2026

Today is Global Accessibility Awareness Day and it’s a reminder that accessibility matters: in our systems, our processes, and our workplaces.

Many organisations are already thinking about accessibility.
But what about access to opportunity?

Supported apprenticeships give employers a practical way to:
✔ Create inclusive workplaces
✔ Support young people into employment
✔ Build diverse, motivated teams

Accessibility in action means opening real pathways into work.

Get in touch to find out how we can support your organisation [email protected]