Give us a brief introduction to The Knole
When I describe the Knole I often start with its heritage. The Knole has been here more than 60 years, and although the service has developed the foundations are the same. I’m in my fifth year but to have that legacy and history is very valuable and something to be proud of – and it’s all because of God.
We are a registered care home with 15 beds, but clearly not a typical care home. We have guys aged in their 30s right up to their 90s. The home is a beautiful Grade II listed building on the edge of Cheltenham. And the environment, with its gardens and surroundings, is a place of peace, a place of safety – a place that people can feel secure.
Tell us about your clients and how you seek to support them?
Typically the main thing that clients come with is a need for stability. They come from chaotic environments, chaotic backgrounds, and trauma – there is always trauma.
We are a regulated service and so we provide person-centred and trauma-informed care for clients. It’s all about being in tune with who they are – their unique abilities, interests, preferences, communication needs etc. Finding out what our guys are into and helping to occupy them is so important.
Ultimately what we do is underpinned by our values. Either knowingly or unknowingly clients will experience love, often for the first time in their lives. We have clients who’ve never had a birthday present, or a Christmas present hanging on their door in the morning. These aren’t things we have to do, but we do because we deeply care and want to show them love. Our clients will say “it’s my home” and they feel that from very early on – they’ve come home.
How did you come to be at the Knole and how is your faith significant to your work?
I was definitely called here. I’ve worked in care for more than 20 years and God just opened the door to Langley at exactly the right time. It’s a real privilege to work where I can live out my faith. Every day begins with prayer and devotion. Visitors will often say they feel peace the moment they walk in. And that’s not us, that’s God’s Spirit.
My faith motivates me every day, it helps to have the bigger picture knowing everyone is made in God’s image. The job can be difficult, but it makes the burden lighter knowing God is working alongside us. We also have two chaplains and other volunteers who come in and support our clients in many ways.
What challenges do you face and what encouragements do you experience?
The hardest part really can be the unpredictability. You can support someone for years but then they may slip back into old patterns. We recently had a client who’d made great progress but then had to be recalled back to prison. When you see people making unwise decisions, or clients who can’t break those chains of addictions – that’s difficult on a day-to-day basis.
But there’s so many blessings and there’s so many more positives than there are negatives. Progress looks different for everyone and we are seeing men grow in confidence, developing skills, and feeling settled. There are always small victories: one client hadn’t been on a bus but with some work and coaching he has developed that skill of independence. We have one client now on the board of a local charity supporting people with disabilities and mental health challenges.
The staff are so key in a place like The Knole. Recruitment is always a challenge. Any changes in a small team can have big impact, so finding the right people is important. But it’s been really good recently to see staff progress and developing in their careers.
These stories are why the Knole exists — and why I feel blessed to be part of it.
Read this story and more in the Spring 2026 edition of Breakout
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