Further Information
WOODSIDE RURAL CARE CIC
Woodside Rural Care CIC is a ‘Care Farm’ and provides supported activities, training and work experience in a safe and caring environment with skilled professionals in response to the needs of disadvantaged individuals within the local community.
It is a 6 acre small holding just south of Cambridge with extensive gardens, a small wood and grass paddocks. We have facilities for growing vegetables and intend to specialise in the production of herbs and related products and the care of livestock. Woodside is home to small groups of rare breed livestock including chickens, pigs, sheep and cows. Facilities include a greenhouse and poly tunnel, barns and stables. A converted farm building provides basic facilities and an opportunity to expand into other exciting projects in the arts and the production of herb products as well as the option to offer products for sale at the farm gate.
Activities are geared to personal needs and capabilities but may extend from collecting eggs, harvesting herbs, building fencing, clearing woodland, feeding the pigs to packaging and processing food or extending skills in our arts facility and photography. We are aware that mental and physical fatigue can be a common problem particularly for those that have suffered a neurological event, so we are try to retain quiet areas and a relaxed atmosphere. We can also offer anxiety management and relaxation sessions as part of the therapeutic program and can cater for a variety of groups including but not exclusively, the following;
- Mental Health Issues
- Brain Trauma & Stroke Victims
- Disenfranchised Youth
- Special Needs & Learning Disabilities
- Ex-Servicemen / women
WHAT IS ‘CARE FARMING’?
Woodside Rural Care CIC is a registered member of the NATIONAL CARE FARM INITIATIVE and is an active contributor in developing policy and in raising awareness of the benefits of Care Farming.
NFCI defines Care Farming as follows
Care farming is the therapeutic use of farming practices
Care farms:
* Utilise the whole or part of a farm. Be they commercial agricultural units, smallholdings or community farms.
* Provide health, social or educational care services for one or a range of vulnerable groups of people. Includes people with mental health problems, people suffering from mild to moderate depression, adults and children with learning disabilities, children with autism, those with a drug or alcohol addiction history, disaffected young people, adults and people on probation.
* Provide a supervised, structured programme of farming-related activities, including animal husbandry (livestock, small animals, poultry), crop and vegetable production, woodland management etc.
* Provide services on a regular basis for participants, where clients/participants attend the farm regularly as part of a structured care, rehabilitation, therapeutic or educational programme.
* Are commissioned to provide care farming services by referral agencies such as social services, health care trusts, community mental health teams, education authorities, probation services, Connexions etc. Clients can also be self-referred as part of the direct payments scheme, or be referred by family members.
DOES CARE FARMING WORK?
In a word ‘YES!’
Already accepted in Europe as a credible therapeutic tool . There is now increasing evidence in the UK of the benefits of teaching, rehabilitation or just exposure to a rural environment rich in contact with animals and with the process of growing. Those that suffer from many of lifes challenges from mental health problems to physical limitations and injuries can find their life enhanced, their skills improved and their feeling of well being improved. (Beyond toxicity Human health and the natural environment American Journal of Preventive Medicine, 2009, Volume 20, Issue 3, Pages 234-240 H.Frumkin)
A review of references to horticultural therapy conducted by a Swedish group concluded that its use in rehabilitation following brain damage in particular resulted in improvements in emotional, cognitive and/or sensory motor function and increased social participation, health, well-being and life satisfaction. (Horticultural therapy: the ‘healing garden’ and gardening in rehabilitation measures at Danderyd hospital rehabilitation clinic, Sweden”, Developmental Neurorehabilitation 2004, Vol. 7, No. 4, Pages 245-260 Ingrid Söderback, Marianne Söderström and Elisabeth Schälander
The University of Essex surveyed 7 care farms providing further data on psychological health and well-being effects on participants. The majority of participants in this study were male (76%) and ages range from 16 to 65. The questionnaires used to collect this data included internationally recognised, standardised tools, which measured the participants’ level of self–esteem (RSA) and mood (POMS).
- 64% of participants saw an improvement in their self-esteem after spending time on the care farm.
- 94% experienced a reduction in feelings of anger after their time on a care farm.
- 78% of participants experienced a reduction in their feelings of confusion.
- 70% of participants experienced a reduction in their feelings of depression.
- 61% of people saw a reduction in their feelings of fatigue after time spent on care farm.
- 74% experienced a reduction in feelings of tension after spending time on the care farms.
- 70% saw an increase in vigour levels. So even though they had been working on the farm for several hours, participants felt less fatigued and more active and energetic.
- 88% experienced improvements in their overall mood.
University of Essex, 2008, Care farming in the UK
OUR STAFF
We link the needs and aspirations of the individuals that participate in our programmes to the skills of our staff, we can provide a spectrum of expertise and support from a knowledge base of social services, teaching, occupational therapy and work with individuals with complex needs in association with physical, mental health and neurological impairments. Woodside’s approach is focussed on the use of collaborative goal setting and the utilisation of horticultural and agricultural therapy in the rehabilitation or enhancement of the personal skills of challenged individuals.
HEALTH & SAFETY
We have public and employer’s liability insurance; all activities are risk assessed and our policies and procedures including confidentiality, equal opportunities, child and vulnerable adult protection are up to date. We undertake enhanced Criminal Record Bureau (CRB) checks on all Staff that enage directly with participants.
CONTACT US NOW TO DISCUSS YOUR NEEDS OR THAT OF YOUR CHARGES
Dr Joy Duffen or Ms Phillipa Coates 01223 894 188
email – woodside@fastmail.fm
