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History
Timeline:
| 1986: | Robert Owen Foundation set up by parents, in particular the Kinnair family, of students at a Camphill College. ROF Registered as a charity. |
| 1989: | David and Vreni Wilson joined ROF. |
| 1990: | Andrew Roebuck and Sarah Kinnair live in the pilot project house in Newton Abbot with Sarah’s sister Lucy. David Dimbleby becomes president. Radfords bought with money from donations and fundraising. Work on the house began. November 5th: The Wilsons and Andrew and Sarah move into Radfords. |
| 1991: | Building work on Radfords completed by parent builder, David Rose. More residents moved in and day opportunities expanded. |
| 1995: | Aspects in Paignton opened as a day opportunity. Head Office was also based here. |
| 1996: | Lower Sharpham Barton Farm in Ashprington, near Totnes, opened. |
| 1997: | ROF Head Office moved to Totnes Fore Street. ROF approached by a group of Totnes parents with disabled dependents. Fundraising appeal launched and building began on Laura House. |
| 1998: | ROF approached by Greenacre Farm Communities in Honiton. The two charities joined to work together. 9, Powderham Road residential home in Newton Abbot opened as a place for Radfords residents to move to for more independence. |
| 1999: | Andrew and Sarah married. (They have now bought their own house in Newton Abbot.) |
| 2000: | Laura House in Totnes opened – a place for those with more complex and multiple needs. |
| 2001: | Rafters nightclub (now called Enigma) set up in Newton Abbot. Over 100 people now enjoy a night out every month. |
| 2002: | Boscawen Farm work opportunities in Cornwall opens East Devon Supported Living started Westcott Mill in Honiton established |
| 2003: | Cornwall Supported Living started. ROC’s Samba Band created – performs a wide range of venues to this day. ROC wins ESF funding to run projects designed to help people move on in their lives by helping them on their pathways to independence and / or employment |
| 2004: | Merger completed as Robert Owen Communities (ROC). |
| 2005: | South Devon Supported Living started. ROC Head Office moved to The Boatshed in Totnes. ROC Services Committee, a sub-committee of the Board of Trustees, is created. This enables the trustees and the people ROC supports to work together. Office Support Team is set up to provide a training opportunity for people with learning disabilities to work in ROC head office. |
| 2006: | The first person supported by ROC buys their own house in a Shared Ownership Scheme. ROC wins B&Q ‘You Can Do It’ award for the revamp of the Aspects Garden. Olympic Sailor, Sarah Ayton, opens the garden. |
| 2007: | Mopit, a cleaning social enterprise, started. It now provides a pathway to employment, including paid employment, for people with learning disabilities. |
| 2008: | ROC Active opens based in Paignton’s Clennan Valley Leisure Centre. ROC Creative continues the trend towards community based services at the Palace Theatre, Paignton. The Rocket Project starts, funded by the Learning and Skills Council (LSC). This is a pilot scheme for the provision of accredited skills training within daily living contexts. ROC leads the Getting A Life (GAL) project in Torbay. This national project focuses on transition to adulthood as a crucial part of the pathway to employment. |
| 2009: | The Green Team works in partnership with South Hams District Council to create an innovative pathway to employment. Devon PCP - ROC wins Devon County Council contract to deliver a Person Centred Planning service across the county. ROC Active opens in Exeter. Specialist Supported Living services launched in Devon. ROC Creative perform Flashpoint. |
| 2010: | ROC takes over Tavistock Mencap clubs. Over 350 people with a learning disability are now benefiting from ROC services. |
| 2011: |
The company celebrates its 20th anniversary with a Ball in November, attended by president, David Dimbleby. |
| 2012: | ROC-Point opens doors for business, offering a personalised approach to identifing desired outcomes and accessing ROC services. It also provides community mapping, signposting to other services available in the community. Aspects is re-opened as a fully accessible ground floor service. New features include a height-adjustable kitchen, an accessible computer suite and a changing place facility. |
