The Farm works to inspire and educate happy, healthy communities through green spaces, local food and each other. We use our 2 acre small holding, a 1 acre community garden, a 2.5 acre conservation site and 13 acres of community allotments to offer targeted community services that equip people with knowledge, skills and confidence, and provide green sites accessible to all. As a result of Covid-19, the Farm has closed to the public, suspended all face-to-face services, furloughed 85% of our staffing team and lost £95,000 income due to the cancellation/reduction of: fundraising events, donations, site hire, training, visit and placements fees etc. At the same time, it is vital we continue to support high-risk service users who: live alone/have no online network and already suffer from poor mental health; and help to scale up food production (through seedling sales and on-site growing) to increase access to fresh, affordable produce for the most vulnerable people in our community.
Why the community needs usSt Werburghs City Farm is an inner-city oasis. Situated in the Bristol ward of Ashley and adjoined by 4 other wards which fall within the 10% most disadvantaged in the UK. Child poverty is a particular problem with more than half of children living in income-deprived households in 3 areas within walking distance to the Farm. Sedentary lifestyles, lack of access to safe green space, food poverty and poor diet have resulted in an increase in health inequalities, including mental health.
Our impact on the communityWe seek volunteers with a range of skills, interests and passions. We are always in need of those who have practical experience in areas such as basic construction and maintenance, those who can assist or lead in event management, those who can help regularly running the Farm shop a minimum of one day a month and those who can help support our regular clients who have learning disabilities.
