The Children’s Centre’s Community Farm now has improved access for visitors. JCK, the Island’s leading plant hire and demolition company, has laid paths and put down paving to make it easier to get from the main building and courtyard to the vegetable patch and out-buildings. Particular attention has been paid to improving wheelchair access, and disabled parking spaces have been created in the main car park and in the courtyard. Chrissy Cannell, Community Farm Team Leader, said:
“We’re extremely grateful to everyone at JCK for all of the hard work that has been done. It’s made a tremendous difference and has greatly improved access for all the visitors we welcome to the farm. JCK has also offered continued support through use of machinery to complete additional paths and also promised to donate materials when available for use in other projects.”
The Community Farm received a ?120,000 donation from Manx Mencap to help develop activities for people with disabilities. Over three years, this money is being used to fund a full-time post and to develop facilities and activities for people with disabilities at the Community Farm. As part of this funding Darren Bostock has been appointed as the Community Farm’s Inclusion Officer. Darren was an Outreach Worker at The Children’s Centre and in his new role will develop accredited programmes for young adults, develop a supported volunteer scheme, build partnerships with other third sector disability organisations, and create placement schemes and programmes for special education units within schools.
The Community Farm has welcomed some new residents in recent weeks including a donkey, guinea pig and chickens. The farm escaped the worst of the heavy snow last month, but staff organised a ‘name the lamb’ competition which raised ?50 for the Agricultural Benevolent Fund. Since the Community Farm began in January 2011 staff and volunteers have been creating a nurturing and educational environment, helping people grow whilst reconnecting with the countryside. The Farm is open to the Island’s community and offers an increasing range of services to meet the community’s need. It is a charitable project run by The Children’s Centre and relies on donations and voluntary workers to be able to deliver its services. It is based at Wallberry Farm on the Carnane Estate off the Old Castletown Road in Douglas. A Community Farm open day will be held on September 28 – more details will be announced nearer the time.
Photo - Reece Moffit, aged 15, sitting in the wheelchair, has been visiting the farm regularly but until new paths were laid he was not able to get to see many of the animals. Pictured with him is Ethan Wallace, aged 11, another young visitor to the farm. Back row, left to right, are Michaela Bridson, Farm Gapper; Chrissy Cannell, Farm Team Leader; Darren Bostock, Inclusion Officer; and Derek Clarkson, Jeff Robertson and Andy Leo, all from JCK.
