CHARITY FEATURE
Transforming Lives
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amie’s Farm transforms the lives of vulnerable inner-city children, at risk of social and academic exclusion, through a unique residential experience combining 'family, farming and therapy'. Children are involved with the running of their working livestock farms, in either Wiltshire or Herefordshire, and take part in farming, cooking, gardening, carpentry, log chopping, and horse care. The week is punctuated by 1:1 and reflective group sessions, and in order to ensure their impact is sustained, they provide a followup programme with schools and training for visiting staff. The charity was set up by local resident, Jamie Feilden, who found that taking lambs into the disadvantaged Croydon School he was teaching at, considerably improved the behaviour, attendance and positive relationships of his most ‘at-risk’ students. In 2006 with the help of his mother Tish, a trained Psychotherapist, Jamie brought various groups of children to his family farm in
16
“
Jamie’s Farm literally changed my whole school career. You showed me a new look at life and helped me reflect on myself, my family and school
”
Richard, 15, London.
“
The impact Jamie’s Farm has had on the students and the rest of their year group is immense…It really is money well invested
”
Dame Sally Coates, Director of Academies South for United Learning Trust.
Warleigh. In 2009 they set up the charity and purchased the Farm they are currently based at in Box. This year they opened a second site in Herefordshire to double their impact and have also developed an urban farm in Warterloo to deepen their impact on the children who visit them from London. To date they have worked with over 2,750 children, and demonstrated sustained improvements in children's soft skills such as self-esteem, fewer fixed term and permanent exclusions and re-engagement with education. Through their approach, Jamie’s Farm provides an innovative, preventative solution to the number of children permanently excluded from education and the long term cost of this to society and themselves. Jamie’s Farm are looking for runners in the Vitality Bath Half Marathon 2016 (£50 registration fee, minimum sponsorship £250). To secure your place please contact robduffy@ jamiesfarm.org.uk or call 01225 743608. www.jamiesfarm.org.uk
www.alocallife.co.uk