We are a Community Interest Company (CIC) based in Batley, West Yorkshire and we specilise in providing land based education to disadvantaged, looked after and special needs children.
Our aims are to set up a therapy farm aimed at looked after and special needs children, providing a safe space they interact with animals and plants to help them deal with issues. We will also be offering “working holidays” where people can come and work on the farm. We will be keeping rare breed animals and will market dairy products, meat, eggs and vegetables from a farm shop.
Working with plants and animals has been shown to help combat mental health issues such as depression and working with animals specifically has been shown to help people that have empathy disorders such as autism and ADHA deal with social situations better.
Since the cuts to the local youth services there has been an increase in youth mental health issues, evidenced by the many support groups that have been set up recently and an increase in anti social behaviour, especially around Wilton Park, Batley. This project will help both of these areas by providing local kids with a project to complete and will give them ownership of their own part of the local environment which will reduce vandalism and antisocial behaviour.
