The city farm helping folk get back to nature
A city farm in Sunderland which offers education and training, and free and affordable activities for thousands of local people every year, is expanding its community services, thanks to getting a helping hand.
The Sunderland Training and Education Farm in South Hylton is home to pigs, cows, sheep and goats, horses, peacocks, racoons, emus, marmosets, reptiles and snakes, to name a few.
It also now serves as a community hub offering a warm, welcoming environment for local people, including those feeling socially isolated or struggling with the cost of living.
The farm is also developing its education and training courses, which include workbased learning qualifications in animal care, equine care and horticulture.
The social enterprise at Page Pastures Farm at the site in Keelman’s Lane welcomes some 8,000 people every year to benefit from its activities.
These include farm tours and hands-on learning, accredited education and training, and free and affordable afterschool and school holiday activities including a pony club where youngsters can learn riding and animal care.
The farm is now being supported by the North East Business Innovation Centre’s expert business support team to expand its training offering and develop its marketing strategy as it marks its 20 th anniversary.
Jeanette Chapman, who founded the enterprise on the family farm where she grew up in 2003, says its services are needed now more than ever, as communities face up to the effects of post-pandemic economic and mental health crises.
“We hear more and more people saying they feel isolated and lonely because they can’t afford togo out, and that’ s leading to further isolation on top of the issues which began with Covid,” said Jeanette.
“That’s what prompted the new community hub here, providing a place where people can meet in a warm, welcoming space, enjoy the farm and become part of the farm community.” Former childcare development worker Jeanette began the enterprise with a focus on educating children about animals, nature and agriculture.
The enterprise has been supported by the BIC at critical stages of its development, includingatstart-up,tenyears in, and more recently, with a funding opportunity to employ two new members of staff.
“Having grown up on the farm, it wasn’t until I was an adult that I realised how much my brothers and I learnt and benefited from being around nature and animals as we grew up,” said Jeanette, who leads a team of nine at the farm, all but two of whom began working there as apprentices.
“That’s what motivated me to start this enterprise, providing hands-on learning outside a classroom environment.
“It’s fantastic to see them develop and grow over time, and to discover that later they have progressed into employment thanks to the skills and confidence they’ve built up here.”
During school holidays, the farm runs holiday clubs and activities for children.
For further information, phone 0191 534 3928, or visit www.sunderlandfarm.co.uk