Royal Veterinary College Farm Project

In 2010 we started what has proved to be a hugely successful project in association with the Royal Veterinary College. The RVC Farm Project enables vulnerable people from the local community to grow stronger and more confident in their daily lives. The project offers an opportunity to provide meaningful farm experiences and training to individuals with a wide range of support needs who would not normally have access to farm training.

The collaborative project is at Boltons Park Farm where we have been running a number of weekly visits with clients. Supported by the farm management, RVC staff and students who have volunteered to help with the project, clients have experienced and helped with many farming activities. These are very varied range from collecting eggs to moving sheep and administering basic health care to the animals.

Participants attending the sessions have found the project has helped them to have the confidence to try other activities with several participants moving on to other courses. This demonstrates how effective the programme has been in helping build self confidence and self esteem. We have received some excellent feedback directly from participants such as "The animals make me feel calm" and "My motivation and self esteem has definitely improved".

The project not only helps the participants. The farm staff and veterinary student volunteers have also benefited from the experience working with the Farming For All team, building their own listening and empathy skills

Early success is creating lots of excitement!

Louise, Counsellor and Director of Therapies for Vision Health Care has this to say about a 2010 participants experience: “I have seen a huge change in J since she started the Farm Project. She has really enjoyed the project and was full of stories and experiences to share with me on her return to the unit. The project fitted in perfectly with her recovery goals, she has not missed a single session since the project started and it has motivated her to get up in the mornings (not an easy task). It brings me so much happiness to see her return from a full days farming work, physically exhausted and not emotionally distressed - I am so proud of the work she has achieved. Thank you so much and I can't wait to refer another patient to the project. A well worthwhile activity.”

This project recently was in an article within the RVC newsletter which can be viewed here. Page1 Page2

Thanks to our roving photographer, Gail Dalmaine, who kindly documented one of the sessions you can get to see the many activities the group take part in on a typical day. All the pictures are in the Gallery with a few shown below.

BBC Three Counties Radio reporter Jenna Benson came to visit Bolton's Park Farm for The Afternoon Programme, listen to the clips on our news page.

If you are interested please contact judeallen@farmingforall.org.uk to find out how you can refer a client to this project.