The Churchill Foundation has donated £2,000 to High Mead Farm, a therapeutic farm in Longham, Ferndown. The money will help pay for a new all-terrain vehicle – “The Mule” – to increase the opportunity for visitors with disability or mobility issues to get involved with the farm’s wide range of activities.
High Mead Farm offers a unique and much-needed day service to members of the public living with mental health issues, physical disabilities, addiction, Alzheimer and dementia diagnosis, brain injury, vision and hearing impairment, autism, children excluded from school, Parkinson’s and learning difficulties, enabling all these people to engage in an array of interesting activities on the farm. Its fantastic staff and volunteers work alongside local businesses, churches, social services, local authorities, schools, universities, organisations and other charities. The farm is open to the public for walk arounds and meeting the farm animals, and it also sells fresh seasonal vegetables, as well as its own honey, eggs and kindling.
The Farm put forward by Customer Relations Consultant Vicky Swan, through the Churchill Foundation’s Small Grants Programme, which enables Colleagues from across the Churchill Group to nominate causes close to their heart to receive a one-off grant of up to £2,000. Vicky’s brother Roger is a regular visitor to High Mead Farm who has benefited greatly from the activities on offer there, and will be one of the first to make use of The Mule when it arrives.
Vicky said:
I’m delighted to have had the opportunity to nominate High Mead Farm for this donation through the Churchill Foundation. The Farm is such a fantastic place and a lovely relaxed easy-going environment, I love coming here and it’s easy to see why my brother Roger enjoys it so much too. The opportunity to potter around in the woodworking shed with other people is something he really looks forward to each week, and I’m sure the new Mule buggy will help him and others to get even more out of their visits.
High Mead Farm’s Manager Mark added: “We’d like to say a big thank you to Vicky and the Churchill Foundation for the donation of £2,000 that will help towards our purchase of the new Mule vehicle. Most of our visitors have limited energy and the Mule will allow those that cannot physically get around the farm to be more involved with animal feeds, moving hay, helping with deliveries and other tasks to widen their experience. As it’s a working farm its very muddy which restricts access to certain areas. The Mule will increase the opportunity for those with disability or mobility issues to get more involved, allowing access to fields and paddocks to assist with the running of the farm. For those with dyspraxia, driving will also be great for coordination.”