Thornage Hall

About Us

Thornage Hall Independent Living provides supported living accommodation in 5 houses located in the beautiful surroundings of the Thornage Hall estate.

We run a biodynamic farm which provides food for those living in our houses, as well as sales to local organic outlets. We have built on the success of the farm and have converted farm buildings into studios for our Day Services offering a range of craft, IT and artistic activity - greatly enriching the lives of those people with learning disabilities who have a thirst to develop new skills within a working environment.

 

Recognition of 100 Norfolk and Suffolk businesses actively leading the way in sustainable and environmental business practice.  

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Our Vision

An environmentally sustainable world where everyone can live, learn and work together in a meaningful way, regardless of ability or disability.

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Our Values

  • Choice: in daily activities, in participation in the Thornage community, in participation in the wider community, in pathways to employment and volunteering, in skills development, in spiritual and cultural life
  • Inclusion: in the wider community, in decisions in personal issues as well as life at Thornage Hall, in work, social, cultural, spiritual and home life
  • Respect and Independence and Individuality: to be valued for who you are, to develop to your full potential, to develop your own spiritual and cultural beliefs
  • Care and Support: for individuals, for the environment, for the community at Thornage Hall, for the wider community in Holt and Norfolk.
  • Respecting Rights and Responsibilities: for equality, for self determination, for individuality, for safety
  • Respect for the Environment: on the land, in our houses, in our daily living.
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Our Mission

Striving together for the common good...

We strive to work together for people and the environment. We work both within our community at Thornage as well as with wider communities and organisations in Norfolk in order to meet the needs of adults with learning disabilities and keep environmental sustainability at the heart of what we do.

We aim to create a community with opportunities for work, learning, and personal expression in which:

  • Individual’s abilities and uniqueness are recognised and respected
  • Personal development, contentment and friendship are promoted
  • There are opportunities to develop the social, spiritual, emotional and physical well-being of individuals as the foundation for a fulfilling life
  • People are supported to achieve their own aspirations
  • Environmental sustainability is practiced and promoted

A Camphill Community

Thornage Hall Independent Living is a Camphill Community.  Camphill Communities were established as intentional communities based on an ethical foundation that recognises the uniqueness of all individuals and seeks to respect, value and enhance the strengths and potential of everyone. Inspired by the teachings of Karl Konig and Rudolf Steiner they were founded upon the three spheres of social arrangement proposed by Steiner

  • the economic
  • the politico-legal
  • the spiritual/cultural

Central to the philosophy was the development of biodynamic farming to provide food for the communities, to care for the environment and also provide meaningful work for those living and working there.  The original values are still reflected within our community through a commitment to

  • providing meaningful work with service users and staff working together within a community setting
  • Equality, where the contribution of everyone is equally valued
  • Safeguarding the rights and responsibilities of everybody in the community
  • Allowing freedom for individuals to explore spiritual and cultural aspects of their lives.  
  • Care for the environment

For more information about Camphill click here

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Celebrations & Festivals

We have a holistic approach to care and support, and as well as the social aspects of people’s lives, the spiritual and cultural aspects of life continue to be important to us. Our organisation is built upon Christian principles, but just as much of the teaching of Steiner was also influenced by other religions such as Buddhism, we do not promote or impose any particular religion and look to incorporate celebrations from around the world in our activities. We welcome everyone regardless of religious belief and believe our values are those that have relevance to everyone whether or not they are interested in religion.

History

Thornage Hall was established as a Camphill Community in 1989. The Hall, built in 1482 is an impressive building overlooking the village of Thornage. A former grange of the Bishops of Norwich, the Hall and 70 acre estate was gifted to the Thornage Camphill Community East Anglia, by Lord Hastings in the 1980’s. Staff, volunteers and some of the first tenants helped to renovate the Hall to create the accommodation and convert the barn for communal use. Iceni house was built in the early 1990’s and Hawthorn was added in 2006.  In 2008 we formed a partnership with Freebridge Community Housing so that they became the landlords for our tenants. We continue to work closely with Freebridge enabling us to benefit from their experience of housing and estate management.

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