A lovely day here at Cottons farmhouse sharing activities with a group of 6 first year learning disability nursing students from the University of Northampton. They not only joined in all the activities ,but added to a really wonderful atmosphere. The only sad moment ,was when we had to wave goodbye.However,they all made a promise to return as soon as possible.

The Art of Caring & Sharing
LAST ... Fridays launch of "The art of CARING AND SHARING exhibition at Cottons Farmhouse was great fun shared with a hall packed with VIP supporters and friends, and some of the artists . They were joined by  our patrons The RT HON Dame Andrea leadsom MP and Cllr Jonathan Nunn, leader of West Northants Council..alongside our friend, author David Lawson.  David read a heart warming poem he wrote for the occasion and unveiled a plaque commemorating the support we received over so many years from the wonderful Carson family.

Sposored Walk Success
The sun shone today on Dame Andrea Ledsom mp and friends six and a half mile sponsored walk in aid of the Caring and Sharing Trust. They set off from CASTLE ASHBY this morning and ended up here at Cottons FARMHOUSE in the early afternoon to be welcomed by LORD and LADY NORTHAMPTON..ex - Olympics athlete Anita Neil and lots of applause and tea and cakes . The throng here included CllrsJonathon Nunn...Phil Larret,Pinner Chauhan,Maggie Clubley ,Matthew Binley, Malcom Waters plus Tony Ansell,Michael Clarke,Roger Law..the entire Cottons family .. plus Cogenhoe 's fabulous GOLDEN GIRLS .... and the Chronicle and Echo.s lovely Kirsty .. .Thank you everyone .you are all stars !xxxxxx

We're Back!
Yes, the doors are finally open againg at Cotton's Farmhouse following the long Covid-19 lockdown. Our Theatre-in-a-Barn has now become a multipurpose music and arts hub. Everything is socially distanced and all the measures are in place to make sure that it is as safe as possible for all the adults with learning disabilities who attend the Day Centre. Needless to say, they are highly delighted to be back and reunited with their friends.

Sadly, we will not be putting on any of our shows until things have completely gone back to normal and we are also unable to hold many of our regular fundraising events. You can, however, help us to carry on by making a donation on line. Just click here if you would like to help.

It's so good to be back!

The High Sheriff visits
A fantastic visit from the High Sheriff of Northamptonshire, Paul Parsons, and Simon Landymore from Steven Eagell Toyota who came along with a really welcome cheque for £2,000 from the Toyota (GB) Charitable Trust. The High Sheriff said, " it was a pleasure to accept this generous cheque on behalf of the Caring & Sharing Trust from Toyota Northampton. The Trust's beautiful Day Centre at Cotton's Farmhouse in Cogenhoe will hopefully shortly be able to welcome back people with learning disabilities but, in the interim, staff continue to work amazingly hard to support those having to isolate at home. A wonderful job."

There was a lovely socially distanced visit from Jennifer Hargrave and here wonderful parents to celebrate her birthday. Tea and cake in the garden.

Somewhere over the Rainbow appeal
Your support is needed Now
Please make a donation to the Caring & Sharing Trust

Caring & Sharing’s staff are working hard providing fantastic activity packs, food parcels, and even a postal service, for people with learning disabilities who are isolating at home.

In addition, we’re gearing up to safely welcome back people with learning disabilities to our Day Centre. This will come as a tremendous relief to some of the most disadvantaged people in our society who have sorely missed their friends and routines which are so important to their mental health and wellbeing.

Of course, we’ll continue providing services for those with severe health problems who will still be isolating.To achieve all of this in these difficult times when we have not been able to hold any of our popular fundraising events means that…

…we need YOUR help NOW.
Please press the donate button and give whatever you can.

Thank You.
With love from all the team at our Cotton's Farmhouse base and, more importantly, all those who can't wait to come back to enjoy all the fun, friendship and support of the Caring & Sharing Day Centre.

With love from all the team at Cotton's Farmhouse and, more importantly, all those who can't wait to come back to the Day Centre.

Last Friday there was a lovely surprise when LORD NORTHAMPTON popped by to say hello at Cottons Farmhouse.

Danny Brown Lifts the Cup

Danny Brown is pictured with the 2019 European Champions Trophy on a recent visit to Anfield.

Library gets a boost from Toyota

The Mayor of Northampton, Cllr Tony Ansell, was happy to accept a very large cheque (in every sense!) of £1,750.00 from Steven Eagell of Toyota Dealer Group. This is to help create a unique library project at the Caring & Sharing Trust’s base in Cogenhoe. Joining Caroline Scattergood and some of the folk at Day Centre who will be helping to run the project were Ex-Mayor, Cllr Les Marriott and the manager and colleagues from the Steven Eagell Toyota showrooms at Riverside.

Curry Supper raises £1,000

“Caring & Sharing Trust’s supporters and Patrons got together last week for a fund raising curry supper in aid of the Charity. The delicious curries were prepared by Cllr Suresh Patel’s wife and friends and Cllr Michael Clarke ran the auction which included bottles of champagne signed by such MP’s as Boris Johnson and Jacob Rees-Mogg. The evening raised £1,000.00 for the Charity and the proverbial good time was had by all!”

The photo includes (left to right) Cllr Michael Clarke, Alderman Steve Coventry (Milton Keynes), Cllr Suresh Patel and his wife, Lena Davis and Danny Brown from the Caring & Sharing Trust, Cllr Cecile Irving-Swift, The Mayor of Northampton Cllr Tony Ansell and his Mayoress, Cllr Phil Larratt, Cllr Matt Golby, (back row) Cllr Jonathan Nunn, Cllr Jamie Lane and Andrew Lewer MP.

Leader of the House of Commons joins the Cristmas Singing.

 Making it an extra 'Happy Christmas' for Children in Care

Cllr Michael Clarke is piled high with presents for “Cared For” children throughout Northamptonshire all donated by the Caring & Sharing Trust. Every year the Trust receives lots and lots of toys from toy retailers, some to be enjoyed by the people with learning disability themselves, others to raise much needed funds and the rest to give the people who attend Cotton’s Farmhouse the opportunity to help others. A great community effort and yet another example of community support offered by Danny Brown and his friends who attend the Cotton’s Farmhouse Day Centre run by the Caring & Sharing Trust in Cogenhoe.

Chief Constables Community Supper
The Caring & Sharing Trust’s Ambassador, Danny Brown, joins with lots of Northamptonshire community organisations enjoying a supper at police headquarters to welcome the new Chief Constable, Nick Adderley. They all agree that the best way to look at the future is with hope in our hearts.

Cliff Richard tribute a big hit
The Mayor of Northampton, Cllr Tony Ansell, played host to a party of his friends from the Caring & Sharing Trust this week. The occasion was a Cliff Richard Tribute Lunch and here they are together with the wonderful Cliff Richard lookalike plus the Caring & Sharing Trust’s Danny Brown, Marian Brennan and Russell Holland and Director Caroline Scattergood in the background with Cllr Suresh Patel.

It was a wonderful afternoon at the Trumpet Pub in Wellingborough Road, Northampton.

Andrea Leadsom donates books to Caring & Sharing Trust

The RT Hon Andrea Leadsom MP popped into the Caring & Sharing Trust’s headquarters in Cogenhoe to donate books to the children’s section of their soon-to-be-opened library. Andrea will be among the patrons of the charity attending the official opening later in the year.

All Singing From the Same Song Sheet

The Caring & Sharing Trust have joined together with Northants Adult Social Services to form a Super Group!

Featured above are some of the Caring and Sharing regulars together with Cllr. Michael Clarke - Cabinet Member for Finance, Anna Earnshaw - Director of Social Services, and Ken Fairbairn - Acting Director of Operations for Social Services - getting together for the inaugural meeting at Cotton's Farmhouse.

Caroline Scattergood is known for co-founding the Caring & Sharing Trust and for her previous career singing and dancing on West End stages – so who knew she could produce wonderful photos just by using her mobile phone? Well, the Mayor of Northampton, Cllr Tony Ansell and the Minister for the Arts, Michael Ellis MP did! When they welcomed us all to the exhibition of Caroline’s photos at the Trust’s base in Cogenhoe every print showed the beauty of the Cogenhoe surroundings – such as the flowers, animals and insects which we sometimes take for granted – or don’t even notice.

The morning began with the Mayor of Northampton leading a tour of the photos on display and proceeded, as often happens at Cotton’s Farmhouse, with a good old singsong lead by the Cotton’s Farmhouse Singers together with Caroline, Danny Brown and Michael Ellis MP. They were joined by an enthusiastic audience including both the Leader and the Chairman of Northants County Council, Cllr Matt Golby and Cllr Stephen Osborne; the Chairman of Daventry District Council, Cllr Cecile Irving-Swift; the Chairman of South Northants Council, Cllr Richard Dallyn plus lots of the Trust’s Patrons including Cllr Michael Clarke, Cllr Jamie Lane and Milton Keynes’s Steve Coventry. Supporters from Businesses included Tesco, Nationwide, Seatons Solicitors and the Weston Favell Shopping Centre. Of course, the village of Cogenhoe was well represented with friends – and there was even another ex-Tiller Girl, Sandra Hinton, to join Caroline in the line-up once again.

The people with learning disabilities who sing in the choir and attend the Trust’s Day Centre were also supported by their families and friends.

Caring & Sharing with Nationwide



Cllr Jamie Lane brought along his Nationwide Building Society Sales and Service Training Team to join in the fun at the Caring & Sharing Trust’s Day Centre in Cogenhoe this week.

Not only did they join in with the choir for a singsong but they also helped to get the new shop project based at the Farmhouse up and running. The people with learning disability who attend the Centre each day gave the visitors a great welcome and they have promised to return very soon.

W.I. Brings Easter Treats

Those attending the Day Centre at the Caring & Sharing Trust’s Cogenhoe base were delighted to receive a present of Easter eggs donated by Rothersthorpe Women’s Institute. Christy and Margaret from the WI came along to distribute the eggs and were welcomed by one of the Trust’s Patrons David Aaronson and their Director Caroline Scattergood.

Certainly a happy beginning to Easter for all concerned!

Danny Brown wins Most Inproved Sportsman Award

Caring & Sharing's Danny Brown was the proud recipient of the "Most Improved Sportsman Award" in recognition of his outstanding performances and team contributions in the Wednesday Doubles League at Wellingborough's AMF Bowling Alley. Danny is not only a whizz at tenpin bowling but for many years honed his flat green bowling skills thanks to weekly sessions provided by the Cogenhoe Bowls Club.

Toys donated to children in care

The people who attend the Caring & Sharing Trust’s Day Centre in Cogenhoe have, once again, arranged to donate loads of brand new toys for the children throughout the County who are in the care of the County Council.

Cllr Michael Clarke collected the toys on behalf of the Council and said he will be handing them over to the officers who are doing their best to make Christmas a lovely time for those children who cannot spend it at home with their parents.

The Trust’s Director, Caroline Scattergood, said that all the people from the toy industry who donate such lovely things to the Trust each year will be happy to help support the County Council in this way.

Words by Lena Davis   

Photograph by John Bishop

The Rt. Hon. Andrea Leadsom MP joins in the Caring & Sharing Xmas Sing-a-long

Leader of the House of Commons and Caring & Sharing Patron - The RT. Hon. Andrea Leadsom MP - joined with Mayors and civic dignitaries from Northamptonshire and Milton Keynes for a festive spectacular of song and dance. The Xmas sing-a-long was performed by Caring & Sharing's Choir of people with learning disabilities led by Director and former 60's Tiller girl Caroline Scattergood. There was even a Dance competitio0n which was won by Northamptonshire's Chief Constable, Simon Edens and his dance partner Cazz Scattergood.

A welcome visit from Northampton Borough Labour Councellor Les Marriott - a long term Caring & Sharing supporter and Patron

Chief Constable's Community Supper

Danny Brown was proud to represent the Caring & Sharing Trust at an evening hosted by Chief Constable Simon Edens to celebrate diversity and community interaction. Danny is pictured above with Rukhsana Bashir, Hate Crime Co-Ordinator for Northamptonshire Police, and Deputy Chief Constable Racel Swann.

Patron joins in Xmas
Show rehearsals

Caring & Sharing Patron, Councillor Steve Coventry from Milton Keynes and his partner, Liane Lacey, dropped by and got a sneaky peek at one of the numbers in the Trust's Xmas Sing-a-long. Steve joined in rehearsals with members of the Cotton's Farmhouse Choir.

Fish Supper raises £1,000

A great evening included a most unusual racing game which, along with an Auction and Raffle, helped raise much needed funds for the Caring & Sharing Trust. It was attended by County and Borough councillors and Supporters of the Trust. Pictured right are Andrew Lewer MP, Cllr. Johnathan Nunn - Leader of Northampton Town Council, Caroline Scattergood and Danny Brown from Caring & Sharing, Cllr. Michael Clarke, Cllr. Lamie Lane and Cllr. Suresh Patel.

December 2nd 2016
Christmas Sing-a-Long

Mayors from across Northamptonshire and Milton Keynes all joined in the festive singing led by members of the Cotton's Farmhouse Choir. The fun, laughter, and dancing was enjoyed by a full house.

October 20th 2016
Cobblers Chairman visits Cottons Farmhouse
Northampton Town Football Club Chairman, Kelvin Thomas, recieved an extremely enthusiastic welcome when he visited Cotton's Farmhouse and posed for some pictures with the Caring & Sharing 1st IX!

October 17th 2016

October 5th 2016

The launch of the very first website dedicated to the needs and aspirations of people with learning disabilities was launched at Cotton's Farmhouse - at the same time as the Caring & Sharing Trust also launched their new "Meet the Ambassadors" project.

You can access the new site at www.northamptonshirelearningdisability.org Please let us know if there is anything we have missed out that you think should be included!

The Ambassadors project features many of the people with learning disabilities who attend the Caring & Sharing Day Centre.

Joining in the proceedings were Cllr June Derbyshire, the Mayor of Kettering; Cllr Roger Clarke, Chairman of South Northants Council; Cllr Deanna Eddon, Chairman of Daventry District Council; Cllr Mary Markham, Leader of Northampton Borough Council; and many of the Trusts Patrons including Cllr Suresh Patel; Cllr Michael Clarke; Cllr Tony Ansell. There were representatives from Northampton Police and from the Caring & Sharing Saving Faith Project. Brief prayers were said at the end by Father David McConkey of All Saints Church and Cogenhoe’s own Vicar Reverend Eddie Smith. The packed Theatre in a Barn included representatives of many businesses including Scott Bader (who helped with the initial funding), Tescos, Shoosmiths, etc. plus lots of volunteers, parents and supporters.

Politicians Andrea Leadsom, MP for South Northamptonshire, and councillors Michael Clarke, Robin Brown and Suresh Patel joined Caroline Scattergood and the people who attend the centre in Cogenhoe in a rousing rendition of “The Best of Times is Now” as part of the Caring & Sharing's Christmas celebrations.

The folk with learning disabilities who attend Caring & Sharing Trust’s Day Centre in Cogenhoe have got together with lots of their supporters to provide toys this Christmas for Cared for Children throughout the County. County Councillor Michael Clarke, on behalf of Northants County Council, came along to accept the gifts to pass on to the children.

The motto of the people who attend the Day Centre is – The Joy of Living Comes From the Joy of Giving. The Trust depends on the County and local Councils as well as businesses and individuals and so, at Christmas, the opportunity to give something back is simply wonderful.

H&P Editor visits the Caring and Sharing Trust as new website plan is launched

Herald and Post Editor, Steve Scoles, (pictured above with some of the gang) visited Caring & Sharing’s base at Cotton’s Farmhouse, Cogenhoe to receive a big “thank you” from Caroline Scattergood, staff and people who attend the Day Centre. Caroline said that the Herald & Post had been a wonderful support for many, many years and how much she enjoyed being one of the paper’s bloggers.

The Centre hosted a get-together of Councillors, supporters, families, etc. to launch their planned website “Northamptonshire Learning Disability”. It is hoped that all the information they need will be available and the website up and running by the beginning of next year. As usual, there was lots of singing and laughter in the Trust’s own theatre. Helping it to go with a swing were the Trust’s long time Patrons Brian Binley MP, Cllrs Michael Clarke and David Aaronson and lots of the people with learning disabilities who attend each day.

If any readers would like to know more about the website or need any help and information about learning disability please email Lena Davis at the Caring & Sharing Trust admin@cottonsfarmhouse.org. Leave your name, address and phone number and we will get back to you. In fact, if you like the idea, we would really like to meet you.

12th June 2013

Joining the Choir

Pictured right, Mayor of Northampton, Cllr Les Marriott, joins the Choir at this week's visit to Cotton's Farmhouse. He aims to help the Trust continue to provide inspirational and much needed opportunities for people with learning disabilities and their families. Fundraising is already under way and it has been announced that the Mayor's Gala Dinner will be held at the Marriott Hotel on Friday 29th November.

27th June 2013

Caring & Sharing chosen as Mayor's Charity We are proud to announce that the Mayor of Northampton, Councillor Les Marriott, has chosen the Caring & Sharing Trust as his charity for 2013/14. This is a great honour as well as creating lots of exciting opportunities to raise much needed funds. Planning is already under way for special events and you will be able to find up-dates and info via this news page. Watch this space!

11th April 2013

Saving Faith with Good Hearts and Keen Minds

Saving Faith Uk took a big step forward with the lunch of the Good Hearts Group during a morning of singing and music at Cotton's Farmhouse. John Bishop from the Caring and Sharing Trust introduced The Rev. Robert Hill from the Bishop of Peterborough's Office; Martin Buckby who worked as a community nurse in the field of learning disability for over 40 years and is now actively involved in the Baptist Church, and Marie Mather-Franks, the proprietor of a number of residential homes for adults with learning disability. All helped form the group which aims to put faith and spirituality firmly on the agenda for people with learning disabilities; to find out about projects which are already going on; and to explore new ways of meeting the faith and spiritual needs of people with learning disabilities which can have such a positive impact on their quality of life. Also Joining the group are Cllr. Michael Clarke; Peter Heaton - Assistant Police Commissioner for Public Involvement; Cllr David Aaronson; Cllrs. Roger and Jenny Conroy; Lena Davis and Caroline Scattergood from the Caring & Sharing Trust; and Danny Brown who attends the Caring & Sharing Day Centre at Cotton's Farmhouse.

People fram all faiths and backgrounds are welcome to join in with the Saving Faith UK project. The only qualification needed is a good heart and a keen mind!

30th November 2012

The Mayors of Northampton and Wellingborough and the Chairman of South Northant District Council joined parents, families and supporters of the Caring & Sharing Trust as the Cotton's Farmhouse Barn was re-opened following the floods in July which caused so much damage. Mp Brian Binley and Radio Northampton's John Griff  also came along for the fesrivities and there was special thanks for all those involved in the refurbishment including the Builders, Architect Nigel Woodward, and insurers and loss adjusters who had been so helpful. Everyone was in good voice as they joined in a sing-a-long led by the Cotton's Farmhouse Choir or peolple with Learning disabilities. And there was a special performance of  "The Best os Times" by Nigel Dean, Manager of the Grosvenor Centre Sainsburys who have adopted the Caring & Sharing Trust as their Charity. So far, they have raised over £1,200! 

The new look Barn now boasts a multifunction space with new lighting and flexible performance and exhibition areas. The opening was also celebrated with an exhibition of photographs and artwork involveing all the people with learning disabilities who attend the Day Centre at Cotton's Farmhouse. Future plans for the Barn also involve the first ever photographic studio for people with learning disabilitis.