Care Farm Project
Boltons Park Farm's Care Farm Project aims to make a positive difference to the lives of vulnerable individuals who are experiencing social or educational exclusion, by providing therapeutic experiences with farm animals.
In 2010 we started a hugely successful farm experience project in partnership with Community Interest Company, Farming For All, welcoming their clients for weekly visits to engage in achievable farm and animal based activities.
The beneficiaries of this working partnership have a range of support needs that can act as barriers to social inclusion, including mental health issues, learning difficulties, a history of homelessness, and substance and alcohol misuse. We have found that by creating an environment that offers a regular routine in a non academic and low stress situation that our Care Farm Project helps vulnerable adults to regain self esteem. motivation and confidence and break down the social barriers that many experience.
This year Boltons Park Farm and Farming For All also started another project, Farming Horizons, in conjunction with the Hertfordshire Integrated Offender Management Unit. This project is providing vital support to our local police force in helping persistent offenders as part of their going straight initiatives. It is early days for this project having begun in 2012 although early feedback has been very positive at all levels.
About the Care Farm Project
The Project was developed by Boltons Park Farm and Farming For All and is based upon the concept of Care Farming. Care Farming combines care of the land and animals with care of people in a setting where they feel safe, respected, and engaged in meaningful activity. It uses places such as commercial farms as a base for promoting mental and physical health through normal farming activity and aims to develop people's potential rather than focusing on their limitations.
The Projects run for eight weeks each and see clients engage in motivating and achievable activities such as:
- moving calves and cleaning their pens
- assisting staff in the feeding and moving of farm animals
- collecting eggs and cleaning the chicken house
- observing and assisting with basic non-invasive veterinary checks under supervision of farm staff, such as: checking the sheep’s feet
- observation and helping of parlour duties
- building and maintaining a vegetable garden
- planting flowers in hanging baskets and in a flower bed near the farm entrance.
After a Project is completed, clients are encouraged to apply for the role of Farm Assistant Volunteer for the next Project. This opportunity allows experienced clients to guide and supervise new clients, giving them a step up in responsibility in a supportive environment that they are already comfortable with. There are two positions available and each volunteer receives training and support throughout as well as leaving with a job reference.
Comments
With 47 clients benefitting since 2010, Jude Allen, Director of Farming For All, said: “The project is not just about providing access to the countryside and contact with animals, it’s about making people feel valued, respected and their work appreciated. This then provides them with the confidence and self worth to tackle the more difficult areas in their lives. We have had several participants move on to other courses such as agriculture and outdoor skills and many have been able to use the Farm as a way of maintaining their abstinence from alcohol and substance misuse. 
We are hugely pleased with the successes that the project has provided in the personal development of the clients.”
The project has received great feedback from the participants. One particular client who was involved in a lifestyle of drugs, alcohol and street fighting, was seriously injured following an attack in the street. He had this to say about how our Project made a difference: The Farm Project is the only thing I have done since my injury and I’m so proud I did it. It has made me feel so happy.... I used to avoid people and worried about what people thought about my scar…but nobody on the farm was bothered and now I’ve learnt not to be afraid to hear other people’s opinions. It was great to come back to the Project as a Farm Assistant so that I can help others. Now I know why I am still alive... and I know that the reason I am still here is to help other people. I feel so much more confident because I know I can actually achieve things I didn’t think possible. I’m excited now about the future and know that there is more I can do.”
The Project has also had a positive impact on the staff. Steve Pauley, of Boltons Park, said: “There is not a doubt in my mind that the project is of enormous help to the clients, as the weeks go by you can see them grow in confidence and self worth. They are avid learners and do great work which can be trusted and you can see that the animals bring out the best in them. I am proud to be involved.”
Impact of the Project
Farm Projects such as this one are already accepted in Europe as a credible therapeutic tool. There is now increasing evidence in the UK that proves that experiences in the outdoors have shown to be an effective means of improving mental and emotional well being for individuals with mental health issues.
“The Care Farm Project has made a significant difference in the lives of service users of Watford New Hope Trust. We have seen great improvements in the confidence, motivation and self esteem of participants in the Project – their enthusiasm has been clear for all to see. For these guys, Wednesday has been their favourite day of the week! The success of the Project and the positive benefits witnessed has, in large part been due to Jude's (Director of Farming For All) flexible and supportive approach to participants’ individual circumstances. She has created a calm environment and encouraged positive working relationships, which we are sure will be taken forward into their future endeavours.“ Sarah Hamlin, Head of Workshops and Meaningful Occupation, Watford New Hope Trust.
Funding and the future
Previous Projects have been kindly funded by The Sylvia Adams Charitable Trust, the College’s charity the Animal Care Trust, The Christopher Laing Foundation and The Neighbourly Charitable Trust. The Sylvia Adams Charitable Trust is continuing to support us in 2012 and this year has also seen new support from The Hertfordshire Community Foundation, the Michael Shanly Trust, the Coutts Charitable Trust and the Margery Gladys Grimes Trust.
The Project is going from strength to strength and is really making a difference to the participants that access it. We hope to be able to continue delivering more sessions year on year, helping many more vulnerable individuals to engage with society and regain self esteem and confidence.
Further information
For more information on the Care Farm Project or if you would like to help us fund future projects, please contact Paula Goad on 01707 666039 or email: pgoad@rvc.ac.uk.
