Volunteers who dig gardening wanted to help those in the community no longer able to look after their garden.
Also 6 week practical OCN gardening course at WRVS Riverside Community centre Hereford on Mondays from 5th July
At Ysgubornewydd, Ffrwdgrech, Brecon & nearby Cilyrheol Farm,
we aim to get individuals work ready by:-
Growing vegetables: Providing recuperative placements: Offering OCN qualifications & work opportunities: Operating as a base for the Gardens-Tidy project: Recycling (garden waste; lazy bags; hen houses).
The project has been developed with funding from BBNPA Sustainable Development
funding. The plot was turned over with Dutch Draft Horses, funded (along with the
fencing) by Powys Environmental Partnership and the Cooperative provided the
polytunnel. Currently the project is being staffed by young people on the Futures Job
Fund under a volunteer co-ordinator & funded by BL Awards for All.
The project has been generously supported by John & Ann Rees, Ysgubornewydd Farm & Sue Fawcett-Gandy, Cilyrheol Fars.
At Penpont, thanks to Allen Lane Foundation & ILA, we are now offering for voluntary organisations as well as corporate & team building days accredited Land Skills- Hedge laying, Dry Stone Walling, Fencing, Woodland Crafts & Working
WORKING HORSES-
Horse Care, harness & Harnessing, Long Reining, Logging, Driving, Ploughing
3 days Penpont 28th -30th. Kingswood TBA
GARDENING & FENCING courses at Buckholt for volunteers & staff on ILM
12 week Working Farms project at Buckholt, Nr Monmouth
Currently out of or hoping to return to work? 12 week ILM farm project will pay you train; give you opportunities to gain OCN qualifications in Fencing, Gardening & Horticulture; provide you with an enhanced CV; offer self employment & ongoing work options. Also opportunity for additional paid work at Big Skill event 17th- 19th September
Places available for volunteers & for paid workers on the 12 week Intermediate Labour Market scheme.
Project possible thanks to the generous support of Phil & Kathryn Lewis, Buckholt House Farm
Felt Making, Glass Design & Video Workshops – Monmouth
2 week Dry Stone Walling at Pudleston for volunteers from 12th July
Working Farms has been providing placements in Powys, Monmouthshire and Herefordshire for individuals normally excluded from the workplace. Working Farms uses rural skills and resources to offer healthy volunteering and work opportunities on farms for the benefit of individuals normally excluded from the workplace.
If you are interested in volunteering, please check our news page for regular updates.
Activities on offer provide life skills (via working with animals, farmhouse catering, gardening, general farm work etc); recuperative opportunities (via for instance healthy work, horse care, farmhouse cooking); work based OCN qualifications (such as fencing, introduction to strimmers, hedging and dry stone walling, horticulture) or a general outdoor certificate; training and employment 3 day courses (Fencing, Horse Care, Hedge Laying, Dry Stone Walling).
Placements have included horticulture & gardening, horse care, feeding the animals, pond maintenance, fencing, rounding up sheep & wool gathering, lambing, coppicing, hedge planting, tree maintenance, tidying the environment, shadowing the farmer, helping in organic farm shop & kitchen, preparing compost toilet & repairing mud wall, coppicing, dry stone walling, collecting firewood, egg packing, pond walling, cooking, sheep pens & feeding troughs out of pallets.
Social Enterprises such as recycling farm and garden waste, pick up and sale for farmers markets, woodland products are being set up to aid sustainability and provide ongoing placement and employment opportunities.
Everyone has really enjoyed the experience of working with the farmers who have provided outstanding care, work & supervision for the participants. For individuals transport is provided, as is lunch and clothing and if you want you have the chance to do a (OCN accredited) training course or an Outdoor or Recycling of Volunteering Certificate.
Farmers not only will you be able to share your knowledge, offering a chance to individuals disadvantaged in the job market, to develop their skills and change their environment, but it will also enable you to tackle those jobs you have been putting off for a ‘rainy day’! All the volunteers ask in return is a warm drink and a few kind words. Types of work we are looking include fencing, lambing, gardening, coppicing, clearance & maintenance, horse care.
Working Farms & Powys Sense aims are split into 6 areas:
Work Share provides training for mentors, via 4 day course (provided by SOVA) and flexible courses to help with supporting individuals on work tasters, into placements, and in employment.
Work Drive is about making work accessible by building on our leaflets (designed to make work accessible) a blog (to provide information) on work and befits and providing transport to placements and work.
Work Tasters are the placements on the farm, specifically (but not exclusively) for individuals with Mental Health problems and Learning Disabilities.
Work Outcomes looks at individuals achieving OCN units and/or the Farming and Outdoor Certificate.
Work Support looks at ongoing mentoring provision for individuals on the farms, community projects, social enterprises and other employment.
Work Enterprises - projects and initiatives emanating from the project such as recycling farm and garden waste, woodland products are being set up to aid sustainability and provide ongoing placement and employment opportunities.