Ali joined Acorn Community Care in February 2022 after hearing about an admin vacancy from one of the charity’s volunteers. A short visit to the farm sealed the deal — within just a few hours, she knew Acorn was somewhere special, and she wanted to be part of it.

Since then, Ali’s role has grown far beyond admin. Now leading on marketing as well as day-to-day systems and support, she works across the charity to keep everything running smoothly — and to make sure the work and values of Acorn are shared widely with others.

What Ali loves most is that she’s not hidden away in an office. Her role is hands-on and fully embedded in the life of the charity. Whether it’s welcoming new visitors, capturing everyday magic on the farm, or supporting the behind-the-scenes work that keeps services running, she’s right at the heart of things.

Ali says Acorn is hard to explain without smiling — because it’s just that kind of place. Warm, welcoming, and full of purpose. And for Ali, being introduced to care and support for adults with learning disabilities in such a positive environment has been life-changing