Our history
Hft began in 1962 with a belief that still guides us today: learning disabled people should be able to live their lives their way. This includes having opportunities to learn and develop their talents, with support that reflects who they are and what matters to them.
At the time, learning disabled people faced limited opportunities once they left school. A group of parents wanted a different future for their children and came together to establish The Home Farm Trust, now known as Hft.
An important inspiration was Peter Forbes. He was a teacher at St Christopher’s School in Bristol, which many of the first people supported by Hft had attended. Peter believed that learning and personal development should continue throughout adulthood. His vision was of a supportive community where people could build relationships, explore their interests and make a meaningful contribution.
Inspired by that vision, the founding families purchased Frocester Manor in Gloucestershire. Peter became the Trust’s first manager there. He worked with the families to turn their shared ambition into everyday opportunities for the people who made it their home.
The founding families’ determination and Peter’s vision helped lay the foundations for Hft. From those beginnings, we’ve grown into a national charity supporting more than 2,200 learning disabled adults across England and Wales, alongside their families.
Growing and evolving
In 1982, Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal became Hft’s Royal Patron. Over the years, HRH has visited many of our services. The Princess Royal has also attended events, helped raise awareness of Hft and the people we support.
As attitudes towards learning disabilities have changed, so too has the way we provide support. From our early residential communities, we’ve developed a wider range of services. This includes supported living, supported employment and community participation, and the use of personalised technology to help people achieve greater independence.
In May 2013, Hft merged with Self Unlimited, another charity established in the 1960s with a similar commitment to supporting learning disabled people. The merger brought together the experience and expertise of both organisations.
In 2017, Hft expanded into Wales. We now provide day services and employment opportunities for learning disabled people across Flintshire.
The way we provide support has evolved, but our commitment remains: to support people to live their lives their way.
Find out what we’ve been doing more recently.
What does Hft stand for?
Hft was originally founded as The Home Farm Trust in 1962. As the charity developed and expanded its services beyond its original residential communities, it became known simply as Hft – a bit like Associated Dairies becoming ASDA or Marks and Spencer becoming M&S.
Today, Hft is the name of our charity, reflecting an organisation that has grown and evolved while remaining committed to the principles established by its founding families.
