Independent and Work Ready Uplands Farm Cryers Hill lane Cryers Hill HP15 6AA  is a not for profit Community Interest Company  run by Karen Yates, as an organisation we have worked with many individuals and SEND schools offering work experience and our own unique virtual and in person Product Design CPD options since 2020. We have worked with schools, PRUs and colleges throughout England but especially in Buckinghamshire and the West Midlands. Karen has professional and lived disability experience, she has Cerebral Palsy and Dyslexia. We have placements where participants learn about our printing methods and do their own art styles including digital art, painting, drawing or photography to create clothing, accessories, gifts, stationary and kitchenware. 

We also have a new work experience focused on sensory art inspired by famous and West Midlands Artists. We have developed this with the help of Green Park SEND School. These options currently run virtually through our own animations, explainer videos, art projects and art videos as well as real time meetings. We will however soon start in person art, keepsake and product design options. Our placements are open to all and you do not need to feel confident in art to have amazing results. 

Exciting Care Farm News!! Hoof Train 

 We are also opening a care farm in High Wycombe Buckinghamshire Our Hoof-Train project part of Independent and work ready CIC. 

We have completed CENVAS therapeutic care farm accreditation.  We will be offering various by appointment community sessions including animal assisted wellbeing sessions for all ages, Animal care SEND supported work experience, We will offer a sensory garden with miniature ride on train, a sensory dome,  Thanks to the National Lottery Community fund we have an all year round all weather activity room, As well as  Shetland pony and Valais Blacknose sheep walking on our accessible animal path, parties, sensory art, keepsakes and product design, an outside kitchen, we have plans for an outside art area  and so much more. 

Our farm is 8 acres in an area of outstanding natural beauty. We have an accessible path round the farm ideal for those using wheelchairs or pushchairs for example. . We have an accessible toilet on the farm.

Karen has a postgraduate Psychology qualification, she has worked as a Autism and Mental Health mentor at universities as well as had various High Education and Further education SEND roles. She has ASK Autism and other SEND qualifications. She is currently studying a postgraduate course in Animal assisted therapy. Karen also has business and Tourism Masters qualifications with a special interest in disability tourism and leisure.  Jennifer has High Education qualifications in art and photography. 

This video shows our new Sensory art product design placements inspired by famous artists and West Midlands artists an option developed working with Green Park SEND school, West Midlands.   

This video show our Standard Product design CPD we run with many settings including many SEND schools participants do art in a way that works for them such as digital art, photography, drawing painting or novel ways like creating Lego patterns and photo editing them. All of our programs have various SEND suitable and adaptable, flexible options. Both product design/art course options will also in time be available on our care farm alongside splatter paint art sessions and options to create keepsakes. 

Our Funding and how we keep our sessions affordable 

We have had support from funders such as the National Lottery Community fund who are currently funding the conversion of an outside brick outbuilding into an all weather all year activity room. They are also funding our animal walking accessible path to make walking our sheep and Shetlands easier in our countryside. There is also be a outside kitchen we will  use to support sessions and promote life skills/cooking. They have also previously helped us with other projects such as our sensory dome.  

Heart of Bucks has recently given us a grant for  our accessible people path on our farm, This makes are farm much more accessible for our participants and staff being easier for wheelchairs those with mobility issues as well as ideal for pushchairs and cycling. As part of this we now have a accessible toilet. 

We have been selected as a Co- op as a local community project for October 2025 to October 2026 we are wanting to develop our animal assisted therapy options with our Shetland ponies and sheep and create a outside art & creativity area on our farm. 

The  Postcode lottery has been helping us develop our art programs, so we have developed sensory famous artist projects and artists inspired by regional West Midlands Artists with the help of Green Park SEND school. These projects are suitable for all learners including those with Profound and Complex Learning Disabilities. All needed sensory art & craft materials for each art project are included and we have developed step by step instructions and original art videos.   

Arnold Clark has also shown are projects support over the recent years.  This support helps keep our sessions affordable. Please support us so we can support the community through our farm and work experience.  

Much of the work we do at Independent and work ready is also possible due to a grant from the Access to Work Government fund. If a person has a disability that impacts them at work individuals in paid work or looking for paid work, including self employment can apply for a grant to meet their work disability needs. For Karen this has included an all terrain wheelchair and a  support worker, it has been invaluable in making Independent and work ready CIC and our care farm plans happen. 

Yates

Some of our past feedback