Grant will help farm to grow organically

An organic farm which gives vulnerable people a chance to learn horticultural skills has won a cash boost to help it grow.

Green fingered volunteers at Langwith’s Rhubarb Farm CIC are celebrating after it secured £8,798 from the Coalfields Community Grant programme offered by the Coalfields Regeneration Trust.

Managing Director, Jennie Street said: “The Farm is a hub of activity, there is always something going on and volunteers get involved in all horticultural activities throughout the year.

“We started with two fields full of bramble bushes and weeds.

“Now we have a working site that produces fresh organically-grown produce for a wider community, thereby giving our volunteers the chance to get involved and change their lives.

She added: “The grant will really help to extend the work that we do and in particular the land-based training that we offer here at the Farm.

“We can’t believe how far we have come and we know there’s a long and exciting journey ahead of us.”

The social enterprise provides training and volunteering opportunities for people with long-term needs including those who are unemployed or disabled, have mental ill health or struggle with social situations.

Volunteers at the farm include ex-offenders, recovering drug and alcohol misusers and young people who have been excluded from school.

The Farm runs a weekly veg bag scheme and supplies local farm shops, cafes and pubs, with volunteers working on all aspects of packing and crop presentation, to build their confidence.

They grow fruit and vegetables at field scale and produce weekly veg bags for local customers.

The grant will be used to secure a part-time training development worker to extend the land based training.

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