Case Studies
South Yorkshire Community Foundation (SYCF) has funded a variety of projects throughout the region that make a big impact on local communities. We use our expertise and local knowledge to make targeted grants, connecting people who care to causes that matter.
Grant Thornton - Lane End Farm, nr Hathersage
8th July 2008
Lane End Farm is a working farm nestled in the stunning Peak landscape at Abney, near Hathersage. In addition to managing 65 acres and over 150 livestock, the farm established a Trust in March 2005 to provide disabled and disadvantaged people with training, support, residential facilities and respite care. The Trust works with Nacro, to provide young people with real-life learning skills. They work on horse management, dry stone walling, building vegetable plots, growing vegetables, caring for animals, learning to cook, spinning wool from the farm's own sheep and designing knitwear.
Vivienne Howson, the farm owner, has been thrilled to see her own expectations of the project exceeded. "The young people build up strong relationships with the farm and the animals. Being on a working farm they are exposed to the drama of real life - dealing with animals, the hard work of growing your own food and cooking from basic ingredients. Many of the young people are vulnerable and have spent most of their time in the city centre. Their experience here provides opportunities for them to learn about themselves and how they might develop in an environment free from their difficult backgrounds."
The young people who visit the farm are working towards a key skill level one qualification: a programme focusing on personal development, building life skills and helping them gain confidence and form a positive direction in life.
Vivienne is proud of the role the farm plays in the development of the young people, "All the life skills they develop on the farm can go towards the qualifications. We now have a key skills level one programme with Nacro, which records everything they learn here. We're really happy about that - eventually we hope to be recognised as a learning organisation ourselves."
Vivienne has further plans for the young people to assist in the running of a half way house for other young people recovering from spinal injuries, which she is developing at the farm.
Helen Edmondson, Bridge Project Worker with Nacro, said: "Coming to the farm is definitely life out of the norm for the young people. Picking your eggs from the chicken coop when previously you have only seen eggs in egg boxes is a great experience."
Helen, talking as she worked side by side with the young people in the vegetable garden commented, "Many of the young people learn better when they are engaged doing hands-on activities than when they are listening to a teacher in a classroom. It's not that they are less intelligent, just that they learn in a different way. Coming to the farm is a great way to learn new skills."
Some of the youngsters have gone on to take farm related courses at college, find employment in dry stonewalling or horse management, or become active volunteers at the farm. Neil, aged 20, is now one of the Trust's regular volunteers after previously visiting through the Nacro scheme. "I've always liked farm work and animals, and coming here is an opportunity I wouldn't normally have. I live in Hackenthorpe – which is a real different place to this."
Shane, aged 17, was working with Neil in the kitchen to prepare lunch for all the young people on the day Grant Thornton visited the project. He summed up his experience of Lane End Farm Trust, "I live in Batemoor and this place is a real change for me – it's nice and quiet. It can be quite rough where I live and coming here is just so peaceful."
The learning sessions are only possible at the farm through the hard work of the committed workers and volunteers. Grant Thornton is providing £1,500, which will pay for tutor fees for three months to ensure the young people get the most out of their visits, whilst giving the Trust time to secure further long term funding for the project.
Peter Edwards, Director, and Paul Houghton, Partner, from Grant Thornton were keen to visit the farm to see first hand the benefit of their donation. After a tour of the farm's facilities, Peter gave a hand with the construction of new vegetable beds. "It's great to see exactly how our money is having a positive impact", he said, "transforming the lives of some of the most disadvantaged local young people. Vivienne, her team and the Trust are doing a great job." Paul added, "Grant Thornton is committed to making a significant contribution to the local Sheffield community. The South Yorkshire Community Foundation ensures our money is used as effectively as possible and provides us with links to projects which otherwise might never have caught our attention."
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