In October 2021, CAN, a well-established charity supporting children and adults with learning disabilities, autism and mental health issues, purchased a historic farm just outside Ballymoney. Lislagan Farm will be a ground-breaking facility for children and adults with learning disabilities, autism and mental health issues to avail of social and leisure, fun and friendship, health and well-being initiatives and therapeutic interventions.

During Covid19, the need for outdoor space became critical and CAN is responding to the wishes of its members, families, carers and the NHSCT (a critical partner) in ensuring we can accommodate the future needs AND accommodation requirements for services by investing in a large site with room for the expansion of opportunities, focusing on utilising outdoor space where possible.

The Lislagan Farm will be an inclusive, safe space, located in a mature landscape with nature trails, an orchard, polytunnels growing flowers/vegetable produce and a variety of poultry and small animals.

In addition to the therapeutic and well-being elements, the site will accommodate the provision of an expanded training programme providing participants with the soft skills, health and safety and work experience required to become prepared for work through processing, horticulture and land management.

Day Respite will be a critical element of the above, as will be the provision of day opportunities for providing adults with learning disabilities, autism and mental health issues as an alternative to traditional day care (day centres). This site will enable us to respond to the changing demographic of need – including working with those individuals with complex needs, forensic backgrounds and challenging behaviour.

We plan to further develop our Respite and Short Breaks programme through the provision of overnight respite and short breaks on site to meet the needs of families and carers.