The EVC Magazine Summer 2024 - Magazine - Page 18
A BREATH OF FRESH AIR
Farms for City Children’s approach
to inclusivity is practical and
embedded throughout their work
with schools. CEO, Donna Marie
Edmonds explains what this looks
like in practice, and why it works.
Farms for City Children exists to remove the barriers
that prevent children and young people having
meaningful access to the natural world. Operating
in term time, and non-term weeks, we support over
3,300 young people each year to enjoy a life-changing,
immersive residential on one of our three heritage
farms in Devon, Gloucestershire, and Pembrokeshire.
The charity welcomes young people from city, rural,
and coastal communities across England and Wales
from primary, secondary, and FE colleges, and youth
groups and community associations, particularly
focusing on serving those who experience significant
deprivation and disadvantage.
Inclusion is at the heart of all we do, and we believe
that no child should be left behind. The charity makes
all reasonable adjustments to ensure that those
children with access needs, medical or dietary needs,
SEND or neurodivergent issues, disability, or mental
health issues are embraced and nurtured to participate
fully in all that the week in wellies has to offer.
A residential stay on one of our stunning heritage
farms complements the school curriculum and allows
teachers to animate learning in real world settings.
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AFTER A WEEK ON THE FARM...
93%
say they now know more about
nature
90%
were more active on the farm
than they usually are at home
84%
said that they know more about
where their food comes from
Our farms are natural laboratories where children get
hands-on, immersed in real farming tasks that inspire
personal and social development, forging profound
connections with teachers and peers.
Young people are nurtured
and empowered
The health and wellbeing benefits of sustained physical
activity outdoors, and consumption of nutritious, locally
produced, and home-cooked food grown and prepared
by the children themselves, results in a nurtured and
empowered young person, ready to return to school
and home with new grit, growth mindset, and a set of
valuable transferable life skills.