About Our Barn
Our Barn is intended as a 'bridge' between formal education and adult life for young people with learning difficulties or other disability. It is a meeting place for 16 to 25-year-olds (sometimes up to 35 year-olds) to share their experiences and to grow and develop in a setting that is less formal than school or college but still provides structure and support.
We run activities that are fun and focus on our members' interests to help them develop and grow as individuals and in a group. The young people may undergo training for employment or work to enhance life skills.
Our aim is to develop a service that young people are keen to use, with high quality and energetic staff keeping activities safe, engaging and age appropriate.
The original Our Barn started in 2012 at Redlees Play Centre and evolved in response to parents and carers of disabled young people requesting meaningful activities for their older children that helped prepare them for leaving school and starting adult life. The majority of funding for Our Barn at Redlees comes through Hounslow Council's Short Breaks offer. We have access to additional funding that allows residents of other boroughs to attend
We have developed additional provision, a gardening project at our new training base - Jubilee Lodge in Osterley Park. Our team contributes to work in the Tudor style kitchen garden, learning Horticulture and other skills for work and a more independent adult life.
Our social enterprise cafe is called Pump & Grind coffee Shop and provides work experience opportunities inside the London Museum of Water & Steam
Additionally, we have a projects for those aged up to 35 who are not in education, employment or training (NEET), some multisports and a drop-in session for carers. We also operate a mini social enterprise: Buddy Bicycles, providing disability cycling in Osterley Park and a fantastic work experience project for all our service users.
We welcome comments, suggestions, and any other feedback about what we do - see the contact details in the navigation bar.
Our Current Programme
Sunday Youth Club
The youth club at Redlees is our flagship project and the Our Barn name comes from using the log cabin here. We aim to be accessible to all, whatever the support needs.
Activities include expressive arts, sports, healthy eating, gaining independence skills. The club is held on Sundays 3pm to 6pm at
Redlees Play Centre
Worton Road
Isleworth
TW7 6DW
Sunday Mobile: 07933 396851
Led by Kelly and David, it's the best way to spend a Sunday afternoon.
Contact kelly.meadows@ourbarn.org.uk for more information.
Pump & Grind Coffee Shop and employability programme
Pump & Grind not only provides a cafe for visitors to the London Museum of Water & Steam, but offers training and work experience to our members.
The programme is constantly evolving as we secure various funding.
We also seek to connect with local businesses for well-supported work experience placements.
Contact david.roughan@ourbarn.org.uk if you are a young person looking for more information.
Or cafe manager Vicky for general enquiries: vicky.kunzli@ourbarn.org.uk
Stay & Play
For pre-school children who have been identified as having additional needs (with or without a formal diagnosis)
More information soon
Gardening
Working in the garden at Jubilee Lodge, our group learns horticulture from skilled gardeners, gains work experience and skills needed for adult life. We have our own base for bad weather and are happy to work with schools and colleges. We run most Mondays and Fridays, all year round from 10.30am to 3pm at
Jubilee Lodge
Osterley Park & House
Jersey Road
Isleworth
TW7 4RD
Landline: 020 8568 9766
Led by Catherine and Carole, it's a great way to spend a day.
Contact cathy.child@ourbarn.org.uk for more information
Gardening for Carers
Working in the garden at Jubilee Lodge, we have a drop-in gardening session for carers, with or without their cared-for person, but we hope you can stop by for a short while, do a little gardening, meet other carers and enjoy our lovely space. Tuesdays at:
Jubilee Lodge
Osterley Park & House
Jersey Road
Isleworth
TW7 4RD
Landline: 020 8568 9766
Contact cathy.child@ourbarn.org.uk for more information
Our Barn Carers Project
Our drop-in sessions are suitable for anyone who has an unpaid caring role or claims Carers Allowance. We give practical support to access local services and disability-related benefits, help carers with emotional resilience and aim to reduce feelings of isolation. The coffee mornings are term time only on Thursdays 10am to 12.30pm at:
Pump & Grind Coffee Shop
London Museum of Water & Steam
Green Dragon Lane
Brentford
TW8 0EN
Office Telephone: 0300 777 2800 (usually goes to voicemail)
Contact carers@ourbarn.org.uk for more information
Multisports and Being Active
We run on Tuesday evening and Thursday daytime. Keep active, work as a team and take part in the occasional five-a-side tournament. Keep an eye on our social media pages for details as the venue varies depending on the sport.
We operate an online booking system that keeps everybody updated.
Multisport Mobile: 07933 396851
Contact kelly.meadows@ourbarn.org.uk for more information.
Buddy Bicycles
Part of our mission is to remove some of the barriers disabled people experience in all aspects of life. We are running an adapted cycle scheme in the grounds of Osterley Park, alongside the general hire scheme run by the National Trust. We offer opportunities for volunteering and learn all aspects of a mini social enterprise.
Accessible to all! There is a small charge to contribute to the extremely high cost of accessible cycles.
Telephone: 0300 777 2800 (usually goes to voicemail)
Contact community@ourbarn.org.uk for more information
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