From chopping logs to herding sheep, Jamie's Farm offers young people the life-changing opportunity to experience an outdoor lifestyle.
"I DIDN'T REALLY KNOW there was this side to me, to be honest," says one London schoolchild, after spending five days as part of the team at a working farm set in idyllic countryside just outside Bath.
"Most of the time, when I was offered to do things, I would say no.
But coming here really opened my mind to new experiences." Here at
THE PIG-near Bath, we're proud supporters of Jamie's Farm, a charity that enables young people, particularly those from disadvantaged backgrounds and inner-city schools, as well as those who are struggling with their behaviour or are at risk of school exclusion, to experience the fun, hard work and satisfaction of an outdoor lifestyle on a working farm.
The charity was founded in 2009 by Jamie Feilden, a farmer and teacher, and his psychotherapist mum, Tish Feilden. Today, it helps young people experience life on several farms around the UK, including in Monmouth in Wales, Lewes in Sussex and Skipton in Yorkshire. There's also a city farm in London's Waterloo for day visits. "The initial spark came from our experiences of working with vulnerable teenagers who were in school, but not achieving," says Jamie. "I was convinced we could break down the barriers of these badly behaved, disengaged children through the benefits I experienced as a child, of working and living on a farm. Children are supported to achieve at real jobs with real outcomes."
The Jamie's Farm programme near Bath, for example, gives a small group from the same school or organisation (up to 12 children and some members of their staff) the chance to come for a five-day stay that could include learning to herd and look after 400 ewes or 40 cows, chop logs, cook farm-grown meals and even assisting with lambing. All this is with the fuel of fresh, healthy meals and snacks, and plenty of pairs of wellies to go round.
To date, the charity has welcomed almost 13,000 young people to its sites, with some impressive results. For many youngsters, a Jamie's Farm trip is such a positive experience that it can have a life-changing impact. In the 2021-22 school year, for example, of those referred to Jamie's Farm to improve their self-esteem, 63 per cent showed improvement six months later. And of those children previously at risk of exclusion from school, 64 per cent were no longer at risk six months after visiting the farm. The trips were also shown to meaningfully boost the engagement of many children beyond the farm.
All this is partly because of the follow-up work that Jamie's Farm does with pupils and teachers, to help embed good habits long after the trip has ended. "This isn't just a one-off experience that gets lost," explains Jamie, "but a catalyst to build on when young people go back to their schools and homes. It's a privilege to see children enjoying themselves - and to watch them transform."
Find out more at jamiesfarm.org.uk
