Our Day Service
Day Services at Whinflower Hall
Our Day Services, based at Whinflower Hall in Norton, offer something unique — a space where adults with learning disabilities and complex needs can be themselves, connect with others, and take part in activities that have real purpose and meaning.
We’re set on 8 acres of farmland just off the A64, with open views across Settrington and the Yorkshire Wolds. If you take the old railway path nearby, you might catch a glimpse of our alpacas watching curiously from the fence. The setting isn’t just scenic — it’s calm, welcoming, and full of life.
People come here for different reasons — to enjoy the outdoors, to learn new skills, to be around animals, to be creative, or simply to be in a place where they feel safe and respected. Some attend a few hours a week, others come most days. We build the service around the individual, not the other way around.
A Service That Grows Around You
There’s no fixed programme or timetable here. Instead, we get to know each person and build a plan that matches their interests, their strengths, and what matters to them. Some people come for a particular activity, others come for the relationships, the structure, or just the sense of having somewhere they belong.
Support is flexible and tailored. We work at each person’s pace, making sure they feel comfortable, included, and in control of how their day goes.
People are encouraged to try new things, build confidence and explore what brings them joy — but they’re never pushed. Everything we do is led by choice and shaped by trust.
Activities With Purpose
Our farm and workshops offer a wide mix of hands-on activities, all supported by experienced staff who know how to adapt things to different abilities and energy levels. Activities include:
- Animal care — feeding, grooming and spending time with our ponies, goats, pigs, sheep and alpacas
- Horse walking and handling — building confidence and calm through movement and trust
- Woodworking and DIY — using real tools to build, fix, and create with purpose
- Gardening and growing — working in the polytunnel or allotment, planting food and flowers
- Outdoor projects — painting fences, planting trees, helping look after the land
- Metalwork and mechanics — taking things apart, learning how things work, making useful items
- Cooking and baking — using fresh ingredients, including produce we’ve grown ourselves
- Music and creative sessions — expression through sound, colour and shared experiences
- Seasonal tasks — planting in spring, harvesting in summer, preparing the farm for winter
Every activity is offered, not imposed. We always find ways to include someone’s ideas, preferences and suggestions in how the day runs.
People Are the Heart of It
The people who come here shape the service. It’s their ideas that spark new projects. It’s their humour, habits and routines that shape the feel of the place. Our role is to make sure the service keeps growing around them — not just in terms of what we offer, but how we listen.
You’ll often see people greeting visitors, taking the lead in animal care, or showing new joiners around. We want people to feel proud of the space and their place in it.
Some of our trustees are also regularly on-site, working alongside staff and the people we support. This helps keep decisions grounded in real, everyday experience — not just paperwork.
Skilled, Present, and Adaptable Staff
Our staff bring more than just experience — they bring patience, humour, warmth, and consistency. Everyone is trained not only in practical skills like first aid or safe handling, but also in how to build trusting relationships with people who may need time, structure, or reassurance.
We adapt our support throughout the day — recognising when someone needs a quieter space, a change of pace, or a moment to themselves. We also make sure there’s room for spontaneous fun, laughter, and shared moments that you can’t plan for but mean everything.
We treat people as equals. There’s no ‘them and us’. The farm is shared. The tools are shared. The day is shared.
If You’d Like to Join Us
We welcome people from across the area and can work with families, social workers, and other professionals to explore whether Whinflower Hall is a good fit. Visits are always encouraged — there’s no better way to understand the atmosphere than to experience it firsthand.
Whether someone’s looking for a change, a fresh start, or just somewhere they feel seen and valued, our Day Service is a place to grow, connect, and belong.
To find out more or arrange a visit, please contact us or give us a call. We’ll be happy to chat through what’s possible and how it could work for you or someone you support.
