Adults with learning disabilities supported by Diagrama Foundation enjoyed a truly magical afternoon when the cast of Cinderella, this year’s Chequer Mead Theatre pantomime, visited Duckyls Farm near East Grinstead on Thursday 11 December.
The performers arrived in full costume, entertaining everyone with songs from the show, festive Christmas carols, and plenty of pantomime sparkle. The visit brought excitement and joy to Duckyls Farm, a 100-acre site set in beautiful countryside near East Grinstead, home to both Diagrama Community Services at Duckyls Farm and Diagrama Care Home at Duckyls Farm.
David McGuire, Chief Executive of Diagrama Foundation said: “The visit from the Cinderella cast was absolutely wonderful. Their warmth, energy, and generosity created an unforgettable festive experience for the adults we support. Moments like these mean so much to our community, and we are extremely grateful to the cast and the team at Chequer Mead Theatre for making this magical afternoon possible.”
Sophie who attends the Community Services at Duckyls Farm said: “I loved it. All of it. I haven’t smiled like that in ages. It was good to talk to the actors – you don’t normally get to talk to them one to one.”
The Chequer Mead Theatre’s festive production of Cinderella runs until 4 January 2026. There will be a relaxed performance on 20 December for people who benefit from a more supportive, less rigid environment, including those with autism, learning disabilities, or sensory sensitivities.
Callum Donnelly, who plays Buttons said: We’ve had an amazing time coming down to Ducklys Farm. It’s so important for a pantomime company to do this sort of thing because pantomime is all about community and local communities feel a lot of ownership over their own pantomime. We have loved coming to Ducklys Farm, we’ve loved being shown around all the animals, we’ve loved having a singsong, we’ve loved playing some games and it’s just been an absolute pleasure and we 100% will be back.”
Duckyls Farm provides both day opportunities and residential care for adults with learning disabilities, physical and sensory impairments, acquired brain injury, and autism. Diagrama Community Services at Duckyls Farm is a day care provision for people with a learning disability, physical and sensory impairment, acquired brain injury and/or autism and Diagrama Care Home at Duckyls Farm offers residential and supported living.
The unique farm setting allows the charity to explore the physical, mental, and social benefits that working with animals and spending time in nature can offer to people with a learning disability, while also helping individuals develop skills that promote independence, healthy living, and access to employment.
For more information about Duckyls Farm and Diagrama Foundation’s services, please visit: www.diagramafoundation.org.uk
If you’d like to support the residents at Duckyls Farm, you can help by purchasing an item from their Amazon Wishlist: https://linktr.ee/diagramaamazonwishlist. Every contribution, big or small, helps enhance the daily lives of the people we support.
About Diagrama Foundation
Diagrama Foundation is a Kent based charity that supports vulnerable children, young people, and adults to live their best life.
Diagrama has a Supported Living Service across Bromley and Mid Sussex, three homes for adults with learning disabilities in Orpington, an eight-bed care home for adults with learning disabilities in West Sussex with a Community Services Programme a fifty-bed care home for the elderly with nursing and dementia needs in Essex, and a fostering and adoption service in the southeast. Plus, a 100 acre property offering farm and craft day Services cross West Sussex.
- The Supported Living Service, cares for 33 adults with learning disabilities, in seven schemes across Bromley and one scheme in Mid Sussex, helping them to develop skills and confidence to live in their own house either on their own or with others.
- At Cabrini House in Orpington the charity promotes the development of core skills for 23 adults with learning disabilities so that they can lead independent lives integrated within their community.
- Diagrama Care Home at Duckyls Farm, is a residential care home in West Sussex on a 100-acre farm for residents with learning disabilities, which allows the charity to explore the physical, mental and social skills and benefits that working with animals and in nature can offer to people with a learning disability.
- Diagrama Community Services at Duckyls Farm is a day care provision for people with a learning disability, physical and sensory impairment, acquired brain injury and/or autism.
- The team at their nursing and dementia care home, Edensor Care Centre in Clacton on Sea, support vulnerable residents to live life to the full.
- Diagrama’s voluntary adoption agency and not-for-profit fostering service cares for children who wait the longest for homes in London, Kent, Sussex and Surrey.
Many vulnerable children and adults don’t get the support they need to develop their true potential, but the Diagrama team know that when someone has time and belief invested in them, they come alive, because that investment has made them feel valued and worthy.
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