Farm2Grow is a not for profit voluntary enterprise care farm based at Baileys Barn Farm in Wetley Rocks. The 12 acre site we have here is used for mixed farming including the growing of crops, and also raising livestock such as our cows and chickens, as well as our two miniature horses Charlie and Josh who are used for animal assisted therapy and are a big attraction to our visitors.
Our main aim is to provide ethical farming awareness, horticulture education and inspiration to the local community. We do this on the farm through a variety of fun and educational programmes. We hold open days just to name a few, like our ‘Fit Families on the Farm’ where parents and children come to learn about healthy eating, growing plants and go on a nature trail to learn about the importance of exercise. As well as a group of children and their parents who came to the farm for ‘Make A Difference Day’ and volunteered, helping the staff on the farm with their daily duties such as looking after the livestock and potting plants.
We have workers on the Farm during the week who carry out the day to day tasks, and keep the cogs turning. But also we have volunteers who come to the farm every Saturday, and we welcome anyone who wants to experience and integrate into the Farm2Grow Community. We believe volunteers can gain valuable experience such as:-
• Develop and share new skills that equip you for life and work
• Experience diversity and integrate with the community
• Make friends with like-minded people
• Enhance your CV whilst having fun
• Build confidence and self-esteem
• Make a difference both to you and the community
• It can also lead to paid work and influence your career choices
Collectively our staff, volunteers and directors have a wide range of experience from psychology and project planning to horticulture and animal husbandry. These skills and experiences are used on the farm to inform, develop and deliver training and learning opportunities.
We provide courses such as the STEPS course, which is a personal development programme designed to help people change their own lives and help them to look at things in a more positive way, also personal skills courses and recreational courses such as craft workshops etc. The Training is provided in partnership with The Pacific Institute, WEA, and NOCN. We hope in the future to keep building on this and offer more and more to the community.
If you would like more information on Farm2Grow feel free to visit our website at www.farm2grow.co.uk where you can download a volunteer application form or call Helen Bailey on:
Telephone: 01782 551833
Mobile: 07766836006
Alternatively write to us at:-
Farm2Grow
Baileys Barn Farm
Cheadle Road
Wetley Rocks
Stoke-On-Trent
ST9 0AZ
or e mail info@farm2grow.co.uk
We are offering some limited Bursary places along with paid places for people in North Staffordshire – for details please click here Bursary Leaflet.