Care Farming UK
Care Farming UK is an organisation which has evolved from the National Care Farming Initiative and aims to support care farming in the UK and raise its profile among decision-makers, particularly those dealing with health and social care and education. FCFCG was one of the original NCFI partner organisations and has representation on the Care Farming UK Board of Directors.
What is Care Farming?
- Combining care of the land with care of people, in a setting where they feel safe, respected and engaged in meaningful activity.
- Using commercial farms, woodlands and market gardens as a base for promoting mental and physical health through normal farming activity.
- A partnership between farmers, participants and health & social care agencies, that develops people's potential rather than focusing on their limitations.
Who Benefits?
- Participants: They often experience improvements to their physical, mental and spiritual health and well-being.
- Farmers: A high value is placed on their knowledge and skills. They gain great satisfaction from helping people improve their lives through farming.
- Rural communities and economies: Care helps rural communities become more socially, economically and environmentally sustainable.
Latest News & Updates
Care Farming UK was launched by Sir Don Curry, Chairman of the UK's leading rural insurer NFU Mutual, at the Royal Norfolk Show on June 30. Invited visitors to the launch were able to meet care farmers at the NFU Mutual stand and learn about the benefits of their work and how they can get involved. It was announced at the launch that Care Farming UK will receive a grant from NFU mutual to help it carry out its work.
Care Farming UK has been set up as a limited company with charitable status. It is the result of extensive consultation with the care farming community by the four founding partners of NCFI - Harper Adams University College, The Arthur Rank Centre, the University of Essex and the Federation of City Farms and Community Gardens.
In addition to the launch, care farms across the country are throwing open their gates to the public and care commissioners this summer, to help raise the profile of the movement. More information is available from www.carefarminguk.org.
