Developing long-lasting life skills and supporting good mental health for vulnerable children in Cambridge
The Pitch
Problem statement
We work with children living in towns, cities and disadvantaged communities, who have little opportunity to spend time in green spaces and enjoy the health benefits of nature. Learning outdoors helps children to do better at school and develop relationships and is especially beneficial for children who struggle in a classroom setting. Currently, our beneficiaries mental health is of primary concern. The last year has seen a 37% increase in child mental health referrals, and this figure is predicted to rise. We are here to ensure that all children, wherever they live and whatever challenges they face, can experience the life-enhancing benefits of being in nature.
Solution
We welcome children for a week living and working on our farms. We subsidise 60% of the cost for every child who visits us, making the trip realistic for everyone. Funding of £2,394 will subsidise visits for 9 children living in Cambridge, covering their accommodation, all activities and learning sessions, and three farm-to-fork meals freshly prepared every day. For these children the expected impact of their stay on the farm will be increased learning and engagement with education, improved connections and well-being, and enhanced environmental citizenship. Their confidence and communication skills will have improved, and they will have made memories which will last a lifetime.
Why are we best placed to deliver?
For almost 50 years we have been providing residentials in the countryside for young people living in maginalised communities in the UK. We have welcomed over 100,000 children. In response to the impact of the pandemic on our beneficiaries we have made some integral enhancements to our service so that we can recognise and support children who are struggling with their mental or emotional health. We have recruited a specialist Social, Mental & Emotional Health Farm School Leader at each farm, and all our staff undergo mental health training. We actively work with children who are finding it difficult to join in for whatever reason to ensure that their week with us provides lasting memories
Focus Areas
Delivery plan
Budget breakdown
| Livestock activity costs - feed, bedding, vet costs | £79.15 |
| Food growing activity costs - seeds, compost | £5.77 |
| Forest School activity costs - craft materials | £13.84 |
| Food and Drink | £171.92 |
| Housekeeping | £18.7 |
| Farming partnerships - neighbours who offer additional experiences | £91.38 |
| Overheads & Premises costs - utility bills, insurance, farm and equipment maintenance | £484.38 |
| Publicity & Marketing | £28.85 |
| Salaries - 12 farm staff to include Farm School Manager, Farm School Leaders (incl social and emotional mental health leader), Farm Operations Manager, Housekeeping and kitchen staff | £1,500.01 |
Beneficiaries
9 people
Expected impact
We know living and working on our farm fosters independence, resilience, and collaborative skills, whilst highlighting the importance of physical activity and a healthy lifestyle. Children exposed to nature have better concentration and self-discipline, improve their reasoning and observation skills, and are better at working in teams. Yet for so many of our beneficiaries this will be the first time they have left the city.A week on the farm provides children with the opportunity to take on meaningful responsibilities – from caring for the animals, to planting crops and tending the land. Children overcome fears and gain lasting confidence from the progress they make as they become increasingly skilled farmers.For children who have limited opportunities to explore the countryside, the impact of their stay is life-enhancing and sometimes life-changing. Their horizons are broadened as they become more connected to the countryside, the environment and the source of the food they eat.
Track record
**While the project will take place at our farm in Gloucestershire, the children are all pupils at Kings Hedges Primary School in Cambridge, and are visiting our farm in September 2022. The school has booked their trip right at the beginning of the academic year to help children prepare for the term ahead, re-solidify relationships and boost their engagement and self-esteem. Kings Hedges have been visiting Wick Court and our Welsh farm, Lower Treginnis, since 2017. “Some of the children we took to the farms have chaotic lives. We took them out of a very difficult environment where they were unable to socialise and didn’t know how to share and put them into a totally different world. It was a haven where they could thrive.” – teacher 2021 “We walked in the dark before which I have never done. In the city it is always bright. I loved to see the stars and not be afraid.” – child 2022