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Celebrating 30 years

Help us to raise £30K in our 30th year

This year we are celebrating 30 years of making a difference and have set ourselves the challenge of raising £30K to help fund our work programme, ways to wellness and garden projects so people can gain the independence, skills and connections that make for a good, purposeful life filled with smiles and joy.

If you would like to donate and help us reach our target, please click on the link below or if you would like to do your own fundraising challenge please contact the Fundraising Team by clicking on 'Contact us' at the top of this page.

30K in 30 years - Just Giving

Our history

Style Acre was originally a residential care home where young adults with learning disabilities and autism were supported. Style Acre Friends was formed as a registered charity in 1992 by the parents of the people supported there and formally took over the running of the home in 1995.

We have grown from supporting 20 people in 2004 to now supporting over 270 adults with learning disabilities and or autism in Oxfordshire.

Style Acre Friends becomes Style Acre
Style Acre Friends becomes Style Acre

Style Acre Friends take on the formal running of Style Acre House in Brightwell-cum-Sotwell and the charity becomes Style Acre.

Datchet Green opens

Style Acre’s first house in the community, Datchet Green opens in Brightwell-cum-Sotwell. Many parents were hesitant about their children living in houses away from the Style Acre hub, but soon realised how much they were benefiting from the independence this gave them.

Style Acre Charity Shop Opens
Image of the front of the Style Acre charity shop

In 1998 premises in High Street Wallingford were acquired and the Style Acre Charity Shop opened. Its primary purpose was to provide work experience for people supported by Style Acre and it was an instant success and helped raise money for Style Acre.

Style Acre’s first day opportunity opens
Style Acre’s first day opportunity opens

The building of Turnstyle was completed in the grounds of the Style Acre house. It included a hall, sensory room and a kitchen. Jenny Pozzoni, who had joined Style Acre a few years previously, managed the Turnstyle project, developing a wide range of activities and work opportunities.

Style Acre House is sold

Style Acre house is sold and the money invested in properties in Wallingford, Didcot and surrounding area. Acre Housing is set up as a separate charitable company to manage the houses. This gave the people supported by Style Acre more flexibility in their choice of care and accommodation.

Style Acre Administration and Turnstyle move to Howbery Park

When Style Acre house was sold Style Acre offices and Turnstyle moved to Manor Road, Didcot for a short period. Space was limited and the administrative team moved to CABI on the outskirts of Wallingford before everyone came together again to Howbery Park, where we are still located.

Work Programme launched
A gentleman sweeping a railway station - supported work programme in Oxfordshire

The Work Programme provides work and volunteer opportunities for those supported by Style Acre. Removing barriers to employment by giving employment support in Oxfordshire. We currently have 118 people in voluntary or paid work placements across our 5 social enterprises and 56 external organisations.

Tea Room in Blewbury opens
Tim Henman cutting a red ribbon to officially open the Tea Room

The Style Acre Tea Room in the grounds of Savages, Blewbury is opened by Tim Henman.

Style Acre supports 170 people
Style Acre supports 170 people

70 people are being supported in community supported living houses. 100 people are attending day opportunities

T2 our second community day hub opens
Sinead Cusack being presented flowers at the opening of T2 community hub in 2012

T2 in Didcot is officially opened by Sinead Cusack, Style Acre’s Vice Patron. It moved to its current location on Trident Park in 2016. The Technology for Independence programme was also launched, to help people we support communicate through the use of any technology, aids and or communication devices.

SABRe Community Hub Opens
Staff and people supported by Style Acre standing outside the SABre building

Style Acre officially opened it’s new Banbury hub on Friday 12 June 2015. The building was formerly Le Royale nightclub in Butchers Row after a full refurbishment SABRe (Style Acre Banbury Resource) opened, helping between 60 – 80 adults learn new skills and find volunteering and job opportunities. The Big…Read More

The Little Book Shop Opens in Banbury
John Craven, OBE cutting a purple ribbon to officially open The Little Book Shop

John Craven OBE officially opens the Style Acre second-hand bookshop on Monday 11 January 2016. The shop – called ‘The Little Bookshop’ was set up as a social enterprise to provide work experience for people with learning disabilities.

First Style Acre Santa Dash in Wallingford
Start of the Santa Dash 2016, with everyone in Santa suits.

The first Santa Dash had 200 runners, completing a 3Km route starting at Wallingford School and finishing in the Market Place in Wallingford, ready for the start of the towns Christmas Shopping Extravaganza.

Green Acre, Garden Maintenance Starts Trading
A group of gardeners learning new skills with Green Acre supported work programme

Green Acre was established to provide work opportunities and training for people with learning disabilities and autism. The team learn how to work in a professional environment, how to use tools and garden machinery and work as part of a team. The team started out doing gardens at Style Acre…Read More

Ways to Wellness Programme is launched
Two people supported by Style Acre next to their vegetable patch

The Ways to Wellness project was started with the aim of raising awareness and opportunities connected to physical and mental health amongst people we support, staff and the wider community. Initially, people were asked to make commitments to their own wellbeing, which Style Acre supported, and activities/events/themes such as Feel…Read More

We celebrate 25 years
We celebrate 25 years

Covid hits but the dedication, creativity and resilience of Style Acre shines through.

Our Sustainable Medal Making Social Enterprise is Launched
Team of medal makers showing their medals

On the hunt for environmentally friendly medals for our Santa Dash we came across Earth Runs. We loved the medals so much; we made contact and through funding were able to set up our own medal making social enterprise. The medals are 100% biodegradable and once people are finished with them…Read More

eBay and Vinted shops are launched
eBay and Vinted shops are launched

People we support play an active role in our eBay shop, researching items, taking photos, creating listings and packaging and delivering sold items. Being involved in this enterprise helps them to learn new skills and how to work as a team and forms part of our Work Programme.

Peter’s Story

Peter unfortunately passed away in 2024 after spending almost 30 years with Style Acre. Peter was a wonderful man with a ‘wicked’ sense of humour, and endless charm and wit. There are loads of anecdotes from people who supported him on his use of ‘fruity’ language and jokes.

Peter had a real zest for life, and he was always thinking and planning what he would like to do next. His wit and clever way with words always had people in stitches. What shines through people’s accounts is that everyone who knew Pete had a soft spot for him.

Peter watching the sunset over the sea

Before his health deteriorated Peter loved to walk and always wanted to walk ‘as far as the horizon and beyond’. He would walk miles on a summer evening often stopping at his favourite pub for a pint of coke.

Peter always had room for puddings, cake and sweet treats and loved to bake, his favourites were fruit cake, coffee sponge and Victoria sponge. He also loved art and crafts (he got this from his mum who was a painter) often using his favourite colour red or favourite topic valentines or Christmas.

In February 2017 Peter fulfilled his lifelong dream to go to America to see his two favourite things the Grand Canyon and the Golden Gate Bridge, alongside a trip to San Francisco and Las Vegas. In his words he said it was his “dream come true”.

Peter was a very special person, loved by so many and there will always be a Pete shaped hole in our hearts. Peter was wonderfully supported during his time at Style Acre, and those who supported him helped him live the life he wanted and showed him so much love and kindness.

Peter 1945 – 2024

We would love to hear from you if you have a connection with Style Acre and have a story to share. Whether you have been or are supported by Style Acre, a family member of someone we support, a volunteer, member of staff, a funder or a community partner we would love to hear from you.

How you can support us in our 30th year

Donate or take on your own Fundraising challenge

We need to raise vital funds to continue with our work programme, ways to wellness and garden projects so people gain the independence, skills and connections that make for a good, purposeful life filled with smiles and joy.

We are aiming to raise £30,000 in our 30th year, if you would like to donate, please click on the link below or if you would like to do your own fundraising challenge please contact the Fundraising Team by clicking on the 'Contact us' menu at the top of this page.

30K in 30 years - Just Giving

Request an at home money box

To support our fundraising this year we have created home money boxes, for people to fill up with loose change at home and in local businesses.

If you would like a home money box or would like to take part in a challenge, please contact by clicking on the link below.