Raising the Roof at CFL
by Esther Smith
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The old roof comes off ready for the new (reclaimed) stone roof to go up.
The Guinea Pigs have moved out and the caravan is moved off site.
It’s “all stations go” at Caring For Life and we really are raising the roof! Having received planning approval for our new Adult Learning Centre, there has been a flurry of activity in the past two weeks. Unfortunately, this busy time has coincided with preparations for Plant Sales Day … and an outbreak of chicken pox and shingles at one of our supported homes!

As part of the discussions with the Planning Department, a stone tile roof is being put onto the 18th C barn in which various projects are currently housed and next to which our new Adult Learning Centre will be built. Reclaimed tiles have been purchased, scaffolding erected and everything is ready to raise the roof, taking off the existing roof and putting the beautiful old tiles in place.

The former art and craft room has had to be totally emptied, along with much of the contents of the Day Care Manager’s office, as the office would otherwise be open to the stars when the roof comes off!

Nearby, the former small mammal house has been emptied, ready for demolition. This has involved re-housing around 70 guinea pigs, but the staff and young people who work on this project are very pleased with the new accommodation and we just hope that the guinea pigs are as well! Various breeds of fancy poultry were also found a new home, moving into rather nice outdoor pens, all built in our workshop.

But that’s not all that’s been going on. A rather ancient caravan has been removed, another condition of the planning approval, but one which we are extremely glad to comply with! The caravan had served us well in a number of ways and was a gift from a supporter, but it had come to the end of its life and was removed in one fell swoop by Jonathan with a tractor.

At the front of the existing workshop building, an extension is being built to house a new tack room for the equestrian project. This facility is needed because the old tack room area will soon be gone as well. Extra precautions are in place to keep everyone safe in what is currently a building area and we are totally indebted to Wates, who have provided us with a superb project manager, David, assisted by Sharon, and who as a company are providing us with expert help at this crucial time in CFL’s life.

So why all this building work? Having shared the love of Jesus with hundreds, indeed thousands of people over the past twenty years, what is so apparent is that just housing someone is barely even the first step in tackling their problems. Helping people to recover from hurts experienced in the past or to acquire essential life skills and confidence, is a huge task and it is not one that can be accomplished in a few months, nor a few years.

Providing a comprehensive support network is vital and therapeutic daytime activities are a crucial component. One only has to see or hear the CFL Drama Workshop in action to understand how empowering this activity is, and how much it helps those with speech impediments or low confidence. The Music Workshops are again a joy to see in action and to view the excitement of those learning to sing or to play an instrument is marvellous.

The worth of Art and Craft activities has been proven many times over and those in our care cannot wait for the Adult Learning Centre to be built and for these activities, currently suspended, to recommence.

Then each week, volunteers faithfully attend the farm and teach literacy and numeracy to gentlemen and women who need extra help to acquire these skills. Just recently, the Drama tutor said how thrilled she was that two of the ladies in her group had been able to read a short poem straight out, without help; young ladies who were previously unable to read adequately.

Great patience is needed to teach all these skills, but a quiet, conducive environment is also essential and this is what our Adult Learning Centre will provide.

So we are not only raising the roof, we are building for the future, providing a facility which will enable us to offer comprehensive, therapeutic and totally practical care to many more people. Our waiting lists for projects at Crag House Farm are currently restricted.. we just cannot help more people until we have better facilities.

Yet thanks to the incredible generosity of supporters, Trusts, Wates and one or two individuals in particular, this dream will soon become a reality. Everything is underway and we are excited! We are building for the future and our trust is in God, who has blessed this work so greatly in its first twenty years.

Esther