Timeline of Developments

Some of the key developments in the history of Ruskin Mill Trust, including awards and the launching of new initiatives

	THE BEGINNING Ruskin Mill Centre for Arts and Cultural Regeneration, the predecessor to Ruskin Mill Trust, is founded by Aonghus Gordon. Students from a nearby specialist school come to work alongside master craftspeople in the gardens and help restore the mill building.

	LIVING EARTH TRAINING COURSE The Living Earth Training Course, which will become the Ruskin Mill Further Education Course, is established in Nailsworth

	OFSTED Ruskin Mill College receives its first Ofsted rating and is awarded ‘Grade 2 – Good’

	RUSKIN MILL TRUST As the project grows, the Trust acquires Horsley Mill, the trout farm and the woodlands. Horsley Mill becomes the centre for Ruskin Mill College Ruskin Mill College receives grants of £1.2 million to support its growth and development.

	WALDORF COLLEGE The co-founded Waldorf College opens in the Centre for Science and Art in Stroud

	GLASSHOUSE COLLEGE The Trust applies its highly successful method to its second specialist college in the heartland of the Industrial Revolution in Stourbridge, at the Royal Doulton glassworks. Glasshouse College received grants and funding of £2.1 million for the refurbishment and development of the site. In addition, The Glasshouse Arts Centre received £2.1 million to develop a high quality performing arts space, theatre and heritage centre. The Ruskin Glass Centre also received £1.5 million in grants.

	MAKHAD TRUST A co-founded Trust to assist nomadic people and develop projects that promote sustainable living and protect their traditional culture in the Sinai

	FREEMAN COLLEGE The Trust expands north and Freeman College in Sheffield is opened, with a part gift of the Merlin Tintagel Theatre. Freeman is the Trust’s first city centre college, based in an old silver cutlery site. The Trust received £3.1 million in grants and funding to develop Freeman College. An additional £600,000 was funded for the development of the Butcher Works and the trust was gifted the Merlin Theatre and Tintagel House

	CLERVAUX TRUST Clervaux Trust established for young adults with support from the NEETS government grant. The Trust sets up its first adult social care provision. Clervaux Trust received £3.2 million in funding and grants to establish the site and facilities.

	COLEG PLAS DWBL Following the gift of a 100- acre farm, Ruskin Mill Trust moves into Wales. Coleg Plas Dwbl opens in 2011

	BRANTWOOD SPECIALIST SCHOOL The Trust opens its first school. Located near Freeman College in the Sheffield suburbs, Brantwood Specialist School offers education to 7 to 19 year olds. Brantwood receives grants of £60,000 for capital projects RUSKIN MILL LAND TRUST RMLT is formed as a holding Trust to support biodynamic farmland and the Trust’s buildings

	MASTER’S DEGREE IN PRACTICAL SKILLS THERAPEUTIC EDUCATION MSc in Practical Skills Therapeutic Education with University of the West of England

	THE FIELD CENTRE A centre for research in Practical Skills Therapeutic Education. Built for academic and practical research with gifts and grants received from the UK, USA and Germany. The Field Centre is developed through grants and funding of £950,000.

	ARGENT COLLEGE Located in Birmingham’s Jewellery Quarter in a restored jewellery factory, Argent College includes a café, heritage centre, community arts spaces and a biodynamic urban rooftop micro farm. Argent College receives funding and grants of £3.5 million to restore the factory and convert it into a college, and community resource. In addition, the Trust received £62,000 for work to 9 Regents Place. MERISTEM Meristem College is co-founded in Sacramento, USA, for adults with autistic spectrum conditions

	CLERVAUX FOLD With funding from the Community Covenant Fund, Clervaux extends its services to military families, and Clervaux Fold is launched. £510,000 was received to develop and operate the Clervaux Army Family Centre. MASTER’S DEGREE IN EDUCATION MEd with Inland Norway University, Lillihammer, Norway.

	SUNFIELD Sunfield Specialist School and Children’s Home is gifted to Ruskin Mill Trust. The Trust receives legacy funding of £190,000 to further develop the site.

	LIFE SCIENCE TRUST Gifted as a centre for Goethean Science research in Scotland. The Seòl Trust is also launched for adult social care

	CLERVAUX GARDEN SCHOOOL The specialist school for 10- 19 year olds successfully launches

	COLEG TY’R EITHIN Following the gift of the Ty’r Eithin Farm from the trustees, Coleg Ty’r Eithin is launched for 16+ in September 2020 GOETHEAN SCIENCE The Golden Triangle and the Ruskin Mill Centre for Practice are launched TRIGONOS Trigonos in North Wales is gifted to the Trust, and a social enterprise initiative for hospitality is launched

	GRACE GARDEN SCHOOL Part-gifted by the Catherine Grace Trust, the school opens in June 2021 Master’s Degree in Practical Skills Therapeutic Education Huddersfield University confirms a collaboration for the launch of a new Master’s degree in Practical Skills Therapeutic Education

OUR HISTORY

Timeline of Developments