Wick Care Farm C I C

Wick Care Farm is a welcoming, friendly place where adults and children feel safe and valued. People with a range of needs are supported to carry out a wide variety of purposeful activities based on the farm. This day opportunity offers a structured day,  designed to help people improve or maintain their mental and physical health.

Wick Care Farm began in 2014 as an enterprise within Wick Grange Farm.  It had its own bank account and any money raised would be used solely for projects that would benefit the work of the Care Farm community.  The Care Farm became a separate enterprise 2 years later and now it has officially become a social enterprise - a community interest company:  Wick Care Farm CIC.
This means that it is a not-for-profit enterprise where all activities are carried out to benefit  the community and all monies are used to support the Care Farm in this objective.

What do our clients do?

Clients can get involved in a range of different tasks including:

  • Caring for animals - chickens, geese, duck, pigs and sheep / lambs
  • Horticulture - sowing, potting on and planting, watering, weeding, making compost
  • Cooking - harvesting and making lunch, making cakes, jams and chutneys and cordials
  • Conservation tasks - feeding wild birds, creating woodpiles, planting wildflowers and making birdboxes
  • General maintenance tasks - building raised beds, fencing, making shelves and signs
  • Rural crafts
  • Walking - with or without the dogs!

P1000578 (2)

_DSC0324 (2)

P1000590 (2)

P1000565 (2)

Benefits
  • Gaining a sense of purpose and achievement
  • Feeling valued, respected and appreciated
  • Opportunities for social interaction and confidential discussion
  • Developing skills and independence
  • Promoting recovery from illness / trauma
  • Providing a break for carers

_DSC0452 (2)

_DSC0535 (2)

_DSC0442 (2)

_DSC0354 (2)

Who is Care Farming suitable for?

Wick Care Farm is open to adults and young people (11yrs +) who could benefit from attending.  This would include people who are living with:

  •  mental health issues
  •  complex educational needs
  •  dementia
  •  learning difficulties
  •  other support needs

Education - An Alternative Curriculum

We are  open for a limited number of school students who need to follow an alternative curriculum.  We focus on pre-vocational skills and skills for living.  However, we are aware of the National Curriculum and attempt to link activities to relevant objectives.  We work closely with the schools to produce bespoke targets for each student.

Wick Care Farm aims to provide students with a safe, secure, predictable and nurturing environment.  Activities provide opportunities for them to learn to cope with relationships with their peers and to work together on tasks safely. These activities are enjoyable and fun and should help improve their self-esteem through success. When working with animals, students have to learn to control their emotions such as fear and frustration. They experience the importance of being kind, calm, and confident in order to achieve success. 

_DSC0607 (2)

_DSC0120 (2)

What do we offer?

  • A therapeutic, safe environment where confidentiality, equality and diversity, and health and safety are paramount
  • A structured daily routine
  • Varied tasks according to ability and choice
  • Goal planning and progress reviews
  • Long term or fixed term placements
  • Group and individual supervision and support
  • An alternative curriculum for school aged students
  • Placements for Occupational Therapy students
  • Encouragement and facilitation to succeed, achieve and to challenge themselves
  • A place where personal development comes before productivity.

P1000579 (2)

_DSC0751

_DSC0196 (3)

The Care Farm Facilities

  • Level access to 2 large meeting rooms including a kitchen
  • Small flock of Jacob sheep, geese, ducks, chickens and sometimes a couple of pigs
  • Polytunnel and greenhouse
  • Raised beds
  • Vegetable garden
  • Enclosed yard
  • Access to 240 acres of farmland 

There are jobs to be done all over the whole farm. When appropriate, we work on the main farm. For example, feeding birds along the track or in a field of bird cover.

What is the referral process and cost?

Referrals can be made either by individuals or through the mental health or learning disability services.

The referral process usually starts with an initial 45 minute visit, where the client is accompanied by a health professional or appropriate adult and their interests and needs are discussed. If the client feels they would like to attend regularly, and we think we are able to meet their needs, they are invited to come to the CF for two consecutive sessions.  This gives the client the opportunity to see if they would like to attend regularly and for the CF staff to determine their support needs in this environment.
The cost of attending will depend on the individual's level of need and hours of attendance.
To make a referral or ask for more information, contact Isobel Meikle

Timing of Sessions

Monday, Tuesday, Thursdays and Friday session times 10.00 am - 3.00 pm
Wednesday sessions for young people:10.00 am - 3.00pm

Volunteers

Our volunteers are highly valued.  Volunteers are welcomed for whatever practical or personal skills they can offer. Depending upon experience and skills, volunteers can work alone, within a group or with other co-workers.  Our activities range from gardening, cooking, animal husbandry, general maintenance, woodwork and crafts, to giving support and encouragement to individuals as they go through the day. 

If you are interested in working as a volunteer please contact us by e-mail including your details and any interests that you think would be helpful. We will contact you and ask you to visit us for a look round and a chat.

Donations

We have been very grateful for the donations we have received.  Money received is spent on capital items which have  made a great difference to the activities we are able to deliver. From fundraising, donations and 2 grants we were able to refurish the meeting rooms and build a new kitchen. This has transformed the space so people are more comfortable and more people are able to particiapate in the preparation of our home-grown vegetables and meals. We are now trying to raise money for an outside quiet room. If you would like to donate, either send a cheque to Wick Care Farm CIC or get in touch with Isobel at the farm.   Physical donations are appreciated and we could not have managed without the generous donations of a few important items. We are particularly looking for some timber for raised beds, gardening tools e.g. spades, forks and hoes, compost bins, hardware items and cooking implements.  We are also need spare waterproof trousers, working boots of all sizes.  Many of the children / adults cannot afford to buy such items and arrive at the farm ill equipped.   If you have any items you would like to donate, please get in touch.