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Get Set Gagingwell- The MAP Garden published their Delivery Report!11 months ago
By FarmAbility
Help us to develop a brand new space with wonderful hosts at Gagingwell. We will create a meeting place, a growing space for produce and an accessible garden.
We have been invited to take up residence at a wonderful site in Gagingwell by the farm owner, who wishes to see a charity supporting people with disabilities using the site to support people to access experiences and places they may otherwise face barriers to reaching. This will be the MAP Garden, helping create pathways and routes into more opportunities. In order to make the space useable and productive we need to do some initial site works in agreement with our hosts. We are raising funds to install a converted container on the site to use as a classroom and a wet weather space. We will install a fully accessible compost toilet suitable for wheelchair users and others with limited mobility, and we will set up some extra height raised beds and a polytunnel to create space for our first year of growing. We will work together with our hosts to grow plants to order for the other businesses on site, creating more opportunities for our co-farmers (adults with learning disabilities).
What we'll deliver:
Why it's a great idea:
By opening a new site together with our hosts at Gagingwell we will be able to offer access to our service to residents from the north of West Oxfordshire who otherwise face substantial transport barriers to accessing our activities. At our sessions, co-farmers are active, improving physical health, as well as enjoying the mental and emotional health benefits of working outdoors and connecting to nature. Co-farmers and carers also tell us that our sessions help with focus and communication, improve sleep and general mood. Many autistic people find that working outdoors reduces sensory overload increasing their capacity to engage in tasks. Most importantly, our co-farmers are able to develop social skills within an inclusive community, reducing social isolation and loneliness with many real and lasting friendships developed. This site will also allow us to develop partnership enterprise activities, creating opportunities for us to generate a modest income to help cover ongoing costs.
Steps to get it done:
Our project will benefit adults with an intellectual disability, who may also be autistic, to thrive in an outdoor, real working environment. It will provide a safe space for people to come and experience life on a working farm throughout the seasons. They will be involved in real, meaningful and productive work, something which is commonly out of reach for adults with additional needs who are unable to join the mainstream workforce.
Gallery
Location Gagingwell
About the space
Approx 1 acre of growing space adjacent to The Old Coalyard, a working yard comprising businesses including a deli/cafe, a woodshop, a stonemason, a cosmetics company and a green manure producer.
Council
West Oxfordshire District Council
Journey
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Whoop, 30 people have pledged since fundraising began!
Brilliant news, thanks everyone!
Whoop, 10 people have pledged since fundraising began!
How will the money be spent?Target (inc. fees) £42,308
Costs Breakdown
This shows how money raised for the project will be spent. These costs have been confirmed by the project's Delivery Manager and verified.
Overfunding
This project is enabled for overfunding. If the project hits its funding goal before the end of the campaign period, any extra funds raised will be spent (in order of priority) on:
Target (inc. fees) £42,308
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VolunteerWe believe in a society where people with a learning disability are active and connected members of society, where they have a meaningful occupation, and where their contribution is recognised and valued. To help build this society, we run farm-based programmes in Oxfordshire where people can engage in purposeful, outdoor activities that improve physical health and well-being, foster a sense of community, and allow the development and strengthening of skills and abilities. We have seen that this can change people’s lives.
Since 2013, FarmAbility has grown from running our outdoor day service for an initial cohort of 18 participants to supporting more than 60 co-farmers (our participants), across more than 70 sessions each week, throughout the calendar year at 4 different sites. At our partner host farms we run day-long group sessions on 1, 2 or 3 days per week. Up to 8 co-farmers attend each full day session with activities led by experienced Programme Leaders supported by volunteers.
Funding pressures, cuts and covid have led to support services for people with a learning disability being drastically reduced in recent years. Opportunities for meaningful development are rare, either in skills-based learning or the building of friendships and community. This can create acute social isolation and loneliness, exacerbating existing vulnerability. As people age and family support networks fall away older adults can drop between the cracks of a system. Not being able to access rewarding ‘work’ like experiences, denies a key part of adulthood, known to have an enormous impact on a person’s self-esteem, confidence and quality of life. People with moderate to severe learning disabilities are largely excluded from the world of work, with an employment rate of around 7%.
When our co-farmers come to us they get involved in a wide range of purposeful, real-life farm and work-based tasks, including farm animal care, egg collecting, cleaning, grading and packing, wildlife gardening and vegetable growing, orchard maintenance, conservation work and habitat creation, cooking and preserving, woodwork and outdoor crafts. Co-farmers also socialise together throughout the day and are encouraged to choose activities that match their interests and motivations. We also run outreach sessions on a monthly basis to a number of other partner projects and sites to ensure a rich variety of experiences throughout the year.
Project Owner: FarmAbility The Project Owner takes legal responsibility for receiving and spending the funds raised and ensuring the project is delivered.
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