This year's theme, "Do You See Me?", encouraged everyone to think about what it really means to be seen, heard, understood and valued.

Too often, people with a learning disability are defined by their diagnosis rather than their personality, talents, ambitions and relationships. At Cocklebury Farmhouse Homes, we believe every person has their own story, their own strengths and their own aspirations. Learning Disability Week gave us the opportunity to celebrate exactly that.

Green Week is the UK's largest celebration of community-led action to tackle climate change and protect nature. This year's event, held from 6th–14th June 2026, gave us another fantastic opportunity to work alongside the people we support to explore practical ways of living more sustainably.

Just a few months ago, we shared Tony's ambition of travelling for a European holiday for the very first time. After months of planning, saving and preparing, that dream has now become a reality.

In June 2026, Tony travelled to Lanzarote with the staff members of his choosing, Sarah and Angela.

For Tony, this wasn't simply a week away. It was the achievement of a goal he had worked incredibly hard towards and he had the most incredible time away.

Congratulations Ann! We are all so proud of you - not only has Ann completed her fourth Race for Life, but she raised a whopping £575 by sharing with others why Race for Life is so important.

This week, the people we support and our staff teams proudly took part in Mencap's Learning Disability Week, joining thousands of people across the country to raise awareness, challenge perceptions and celebrate the contributions of people with learning disabilities.

A guest blog by our wonderful team member, Charlotte Holmes. Charlotte champions Art Therapy across our three homes as a vital form of communication that goes above and beyond traditional methods of communication. It has been invaluable for unlocking conversations and creating safe spaces for people to share. As we look towards Mental Health Awareness week, she explores the power of Mandalas.

Every year in April, people across the world come together to recognise World Autism Awareness Day. It was set up as a moment in time to increase understanding, foster acceptance, and champion the rights of autistic individuals. Throughout April, we have been celebrating autism and discussing what it means to us.

Over the past few years, Robin’s health has significantly been impacted by dementia. We worked with Robin to design the perfect holiday for him to enjoy with his best friend, Cath.

World Down Syndrome Day! Ee took part in the global Lots of Socks campaign. This initiative encourages people to wear bright, colourful and mismatched socks to celebrate difference and raise awareness of Down syndrome. The odd socks symbolise the uniqueness of the extra 21st chromosome that people with Down syndrome have. A simple but powerful way to start conversations and promote understanding.

At Cocklebury Farmhouse Homes, supporting people to live fulfilling lives means helping them turn their ambitions into reality. For Tony, one of those ambitions has always been to travel somewhere hot for a holiday.

Rather than seeing this as just a wish, our Assistant Manager at Malmesbury Road saw it as an opportunity to help Tony set meaningful goals and begin planning for the future.

The start of the year has been full of energy, goal achievement and meaningful moments across Cocklebury Farmhouse Homes. From personal milestones to shared celebrations, it has been a wonderful few months of growth, connection and plenty of joy.

As the days grew shorter and the seasons changed, life across our homes was anything but quiet. From autumn adventures to festive celebrations, the ‘ber months have been full of laughter, learning, connection and unforgettable memories. Here’s a look back at what we’ve been up to between October and December.

What better way to kick off our Christmas party this evening than by joining in with Save the Children’s Christmas Jumper Day! Staff and residents were invited to dig out their brightest, boldest and most wonderfully festive jumpers and they did not disappoint.

This year, the people we support wanted to celebrate Children in Need by raising awareness and challenging ourselves, and as a team, we wanted to create something truly inclusive and memorable for all.

There’s something about summer that always feels special. Maybe it’s the sunshine, maybe it’s being outdoors more, but most of all, it’s creating new memories and learning new skills. This year, summer was all about choice, independence, and celebrating passions. Every plan we made came from the people we support: what they wanted to do, learn, and experience. 

Over the course of two weeks in September, we had the pleasure of taking three groups of residents on our annual holiday to St Ives, Cornwall. This getaway is always one of the highlights of our year, and it was a joy to see everyone enjoying new experiences, favourite traditions, and plenty of laughter along the way.

We are proud to be supporting a fantastic and groundbreaking initiative – the first ever Mixed Ability Rugby Tour for the Chippenham Cavaliers Mixed Ability Rugby team. The Chippenham Cavaliers Mixed Ability Rugby team is truly inclusive, it’s a place where everyone can play from ex-players to those with additional needs naturally and without distinction.

This isn’t just a weekend away – it’s a chance to set an example in inclusive sport, build lifelong friendships, and give people with learning disabilities and autistic people the opportunity to experience something they might never otherwise be able to.

As the sunshine returns, we've been making the most of the lovely weather by hosting our much-loved Friends and Family Coffee Afternoons! These events are a reminder of the joy that comes from bringing people together— stories, laughter, and of course, cake.

At our home, we believe every person we support deserves to feel celebrated, included, and truly valued—especially on their birthday. This year, we had the joy of celebrating a very special day for Owen, who has been part of our community for over 30 years. Everyone was excited to make sure his birthday was one to remember.

This past week, we’ve come together as a community to celebrate Green Week—a time to reflect on how our everyday choices can positively impact the environment. Through a variety of fun, thoughtful, and engaging activities, the people we support showed how small actions can make a big difference.