The Children’s Centre’s Community Farm is launching a new programme for people with disabilities thanks to funding from Manx MENCAP. The ‘Inclusion Programme’ starts in September this year, but a series of taster sessions will be held at the Community Farm during the summer starting on July 23. There’s also an Open Afternoon at the farm on Monday July 15 from 4pm to 6pm for anyone who wants to find out more about the programme and the taster sessions. Darren Bostock, Inclusion Officer at the Community Farm, said:
“Following the receipt of funding from Manx Mencap, The Community Farm sought to develop its provision to the Island’s disability community. After initial discussions with groups and organisations that work with and for people with disabilities, several common questions arose. These centred on how people with disabilities can access further and higher education, how they can develop social and vocational skills and enhance their employment opportunities. As with all of the educational programmes we offer at The Community Farm, the Inclusion Programme will complement other provision and aim to develop confidence, self-esteem, motivation, communication, and interaction with others.”
The taster sessions are split into three categories – socialisation, experience, and learning. The ‘socialisation’ sessions will focus on developing confidence, communication skills and team work – and aim to help participants make new friends. This will be achieved through a variety of activities including country walks, craft workshops, and by learning how to grow plants. Sessions will take place at the Community Farm and include trips to other places of interest. The ‘experience’ sessions will involve six different workshops in which participants will be encouraged to try new challenges based on countryside activities with the aim of allowing them to discover new skills and interests. The ‘learning’ sessions include educational workshops based on horticulture and animal welfare. Thanks to funding from Manx MENCAP, the Community Farm is able to offer the taster sessions for a nominal charge of ?2 per person, per session. Darren Bostock added:
“This is a really exciting programme which we hope will make a huge difference to everyone who takes part. The Open Afternoon is the ideal opportunity to find out more about the Inclusion Programme, to sign up for the taster sessions, and discover more about the Community Farm.”
The Community Farm is based at Wallberry Farm on the Carnane Estate off the Old Castletown Road in Douglas. Since the project began in January 2011 staff and volunteers have been creating an environment in which children and young people from across the Island can learn, from practical experience, the skills needed to care for animals and to grow crops. The farm also has workshops where children learn skills that will be put to good use in maintaining and repairing farm tools and machinery. The Community Farm is a charitable project run by The Children’s Centre and relies on donations and voluntary workers supporting the project.
For more details about the Inclusion Programme contact the Community Farm by emailing farm@thechildrenscentre.org.im or call 01624 610540.
