Adopt One of Our Beloved Animals Today!

By adopting one of our animals, you’ll directly contribute to their care, including food, medical needs, housing, and enrichment activities on our farm. Your support makes a world of difference!

What’s Included in the Adoption?

When you adopt, you’ll receive a Rare Breeds Centre Adoption Pack within one month of purchase, as well as a 6-month update on your chosen animal. Your adoption pack includes:

• A welcome letter
• A postcard
• An animal fact sheet
• A certificate of adoption
• A free day ticket to the Rare Breeds Centre, so you can come and see your adopted animal
• A soft toy
• An RBC pen

What animals do we have available?

Some of our visitors’ favourite animals are part of our adoption program! Such as, Huckleberry, our lovable Highland cow, Rhona, our gentle Shire horse. And for those who adore the smaller animals, we also offer Smokey and Bandit, our playful Netherland Dwarf Rabbits, and Flora and Dora, our charming Indian Runner Ducks. With many more to choose from, head to our adoption page to see them all!

How to Get Started?

Discover the animals waiting for adoption on our website or by visiting the Rare Breeds Centre in person and speaking to the team in our Gift Shop.

Celebrate International Day of Charity with Us!

On September 5^th we are celebrating International Day of Charity and the important work of Canterbury Oast Trust (COT) and the life-changing impact it has every day. COT became a registered charity in 1985 and has always been dedicated to empowering adults with learning disabilities, helping them take control of their lives providing training, housing, and work experiences.

Our founders, many of whom are still involved with the charity today, were mainly parents who wished for their adult children to have the opportunity to live their own independent lives. COT has grown steadily over succeeding years to become one of the most groundbreaking and respected providers of accommodation and support for people with a learning disability in Kent.

Our charity also operates the Rare Breeds Centre, a supportive environment for skills development and a beloved family attraction welcoming 130,000 visitors annually. Every visit to the farm directly supports our mission, with funds contributing to improving the lives of those we serve.

Currently, we care for and support 83 individuals in our accommodation services in Kent. We also offer 150 training placements for people with learning disabilities and/or autism, allowing them to thrive in programs that build both confidence and essential life skills.

To keep up to date with our charity, follow our Facebook page

When you visit the Rare Breeds Centre, you may notice our students around the farm, helping with the animals, assisting with events, or engaging with visitors. This is part of our Farm Life Skills programme, designed to teach individuals skills in animal care, customer service, and teamwork in a real-world environment.

Across our skills and therapeutic programmes and residential facilities, we are fortunate to have an incredible team of volunteers who are vital members of our organisation. From regular, committed helpers to those who volunteer occasionally, our work wouldn’t be possible without their dedication and passion.

We’re always seeking new volunteers! Right now, we have exciting opportunities available in our Granary Training Kitchen, where we particularly need some new volunteers to help our students to gain practical experience of food preparation and cooking. Level 2 food hygiene training will be provided. If this is something of interest, get in touch today! If your interests lie elsewhere, we’re happy to tailor volunteer roles to match your skills and provide training as needed.

If you’d like to join our team and make a difference, we’d love to hear from you. No experience is necessary, and all training provided. Just bring your enthusiasm, patience, and energy!

To learn more about volunteering with us, please contact Paul Harris at paul.harris@canterburyoasttrust.org.uk