Canterbury Oast Trust (COT), a pioneering charity supporting adults with learning disabilities
and autism, is celebrating its 40th anniversary with a vibrant Ruby Jubilee Music Festival this
September and unveiling bold plans for the future.
Founded in 1985 by a group of visionary parents, COT has grown into a thriving community
offering supported living, residential care, life skills training, and meaningful work
experiences in Kent. Its innovative site, the Rare Breeds Centre, remains a hub of learning
and inclusion.
The Ruby Jubilee Festival will take place from Friday 5th to Sunday 7th September 2025 at
the Rare Breeds Centre near Ashford. This event has been made possible by the generous
sponsorship of families of supported people and local businesses including Adler Fairways,
Chavereys, Kent Reliance, Korkers, and Serious Print Group, honouring four decades of
empowerment, community, and growth. The planned celebrations are as follows:
• Friday will consist of a private, 1980s-themed celebration for supported individuals,
families, staff, volunteers and their generous supporters.
• Saturday 6th and Sunday 7th September, from 12pm to 4pm: COT will partner with
Raver Tots to present two days of family-friendly festival fun, filled with dancing,
music, and non-stop entertainment.
• Known for its hugely popular family-friendly music events, Raver Tots will bring top
DJs and upbeat dance tracks to a safe, inclusive, and exciting environment for
children and their families.
• The weekend’s line-up includes special guest performances from Wideboys, playing
the best in Kisstory Classics, along with live performances from Leanne Louise and
Charlotte Devaney, with more acts to be announced soon.
• Tickets for the Raver Tots event can be found at
https://rarebreedscentre.digitickets.co.uk/event-tickets/68216
Looking Ahead: A Bold Vision for the Next Five Years
To mark this important milestone, COT is launching a fundraising campaign in support of its
ambitious five-year strategy: “Caring for our Tomorrow” which includes:
• Enhanced Accessibility: Enhancing facilities at the Rare Breeds Centre to ensure
greater accessibility and inclusivity for a wide range of disabilities.
• Assistive Technology: Investing in life-changing tools to support greater
independence and communication.
• Environmental Conservation: Expanding nature-based learning and sustainability
initiatives at Poulton Wood and the Rare Breeds Centre.
• Unified Digital Presence: Unifying COT with the Rare Breeds Centre online with a
new, accessible website launched in July 2025 to strengthen online engagement and
ease-of-use for website users with special needs. Approximately 13 million people in
the UK have a disability which may prevent them from reading online content. With
the introduction of their new accessibility toolbar, Recite Me, on their website, those
who struggle with decreased vision, learning difficulties, literacy, language/linguistic
problems, attention disorders and physical disabilities can now engage with COT’s
content in the best way for them.
• Community Growth: Continuing to expand accommodation options to meet growing
demand and enhancing life skills programmes to help learners gain skills for
employment.
“COT’s Ruby Jubilee is not just a celebration of the past, but a launchpad for the future,” said
Sarah Edwards, CEO of Canterbury Oast Trust. “The charity remains committed to creating a
more inclusive, accessible, and joyful world for the people it supports.”
COT invites individuals, businesses, and community groups to get involved through
donations, sponsorships, and volunteering with the assistance of their supporter
engagement team. Fundraising and sponsorship packs are available on the charity’s
website.
To learn more, donate, or get involved, visit: www.canterburyoasttrust.org.uk.
