The Children’s Centre’s popular Community Farm has received a well-deserved boost from the Microgaming Health & Care Trust with a significant donation of £4,880.
 
Located on the Carnane Estate on Douglas Head, The Children’s Centre will use the donation to make major improvements to the greenhouses, which are well tended by visitors. The donation will be used to develop one of the poly-tunnel greenhouses already in place on the farm. The project will render the greenhouse suitable for wheelchair users, allowing disabled access with raised growing beds. This will ensure that the vegetable patches can be reached by all children including those who are less physically able.
 
The project will also see one end of the greenhouse divided off by a fine mesh netting partition, to be used as an area for releasing butterflies on the farm. This will form part of a sensory therapy area for children with disabilities.
 
Chrissy Cannell, Farm Development Officer for The Children’s Centre, comments: “The Community Farm was established to provide a therapeutic and educational resource for children, young people and families. Thanks to Microgaming’s kind donation, we will be able to modify our facilities to meet the needs of physically disabled children, allowing all young people to partake in gardening and horticulture work.”
 
John Wardle, a Trustee of the Microgaming Health & Care Trust, adds: “The Community Farm is unique to the Isle of Man and the conversion of the poly-tunnel will provide an excellent educational opportunity to young people with disabilities. Undoubtedly, the project is a big asset to the local community; and we are delighted to be supporting The Children’s Centre’s work.”
 
The aim of the Community Farm is to further the work that The Children’s Centre charity already undertakes with young people by providing access to a therapeutic countryside environment. Children are able to ‘grow their social skills and self-confidence, as well as learning and developing new practical skills’, while also having the opportunity to gain qualifications in horticulture and agriculture. The Community Farm is run by The Children’s Centre as a charitable project and it relies on grants and donations to be able to provide its activities and services.