The Covid-19 pandemic and the associated measures to reduce transmission have impacted heavily on the farm as they have on the lives and businesses of people locally and across the world.  Lockdown closure and the current restrictions on social interactions have meant that the farm's usual social enterprise activity and fundraising events have been drastically reduced putting our expected income down by around £10,000 a month since March.  Thanks to the massive support of our local community, friends supporters and funders and use of the government support through the furlough grants we have made it through the summer months.  However this period would usually be our peak income generation time, helping to run the farm through the winter and into the start of the next spring and summer so this winter we still need to raise around £5000 each month in donations and fundraising activity to meet the base costs of running the farm and supporting our local community. 

Whilst our public opening hours have had to be reduced, we continue to provide opportunities for people especially young people, people with learning disabilities and people with mental health needs to benefit from the learning and therapeutic value of participating in farm based activities throughout the week, every week and we have extended our operating hours in order to provide for social distancing and enable as many people as possible who rely on the farm to have continued safe and stress relieving access.

The costs of delivering all of our services have increased because of the pandemic. Additional cleaning, staff support and things like heating and lighting multiple spaces increase our regular costs whilst adaptations such as continuous staffing at the gate, installation of signage and barriers for one way routes and changes to indoor spaces to make them Covid-19 secure (eg increased access and ventilation) all add up.

Adaptations for Covid-19 needed currently include:

A shelter and screens for staff on the gate to enable them to keep warm and dry and to provide greater protection from transmission of Covid-19 at the gate and maintain public opening whilst it is safe to do so.  £400.

Office adjustments £500

Pop up work shelter for volunteers £500

Our plan for classroom improvement has become even more important and urgent at the current time to provide a safe indoor space to enable as many people as possible to benefit from access to the farm during the winter months and to support the farm in rebuilding income streams, reducing costs and providing services to the community going forwards.
We need to raise
£3000 for adaptations to doors and windows for better ventilation and access 
£5000 for minimal refurbishment of the space and fittings to facilitate use and cleaning for Covid-19 
To help the long term we'd love to be able to raise
An additional £5000 for full refurbishment.
£7000 to upgrade the PV system maximising renewable generation and reducing our energy bills.