Expansion plans for ‘care farms’ after successful pilot scheme
Thursday August 2nd, 2012
NHS staff are hoping to expand the use of “care farms” after a pilot scheme was found to benefit both patients and farmers.
Care
farming sees farmers offering therapeutic day activities on their farms
for people with health or social care needs.
People recovering from mental ill health, stroke and those with learning disabilities are just some who have benefited from the scheme over the past year.
NHS Derbyshire County has been working with The Farming Life Centre and the Growing Rural Enterprise Ltd to encourage farmers to find out more about care farming and worked with four farms in the area.
Now NHS Derbyshire County wants even more to follow in their footsteps because of the health benefits for both farmers and patients.
Linda Syson-Nibbs, nurse consultant public health for NHS Derbyshire County, said: “Ever since the onset of the foot and mouth crisis farmers have had to contend with a succession of changes to farming practice, including stricter regulations around the movement of animals.
“This has completely changed the shape of their livelihoods, and left them feeling increasingly isolated, both economically and socially. Hill farming is as much a vocation as a business and the recent dispute over dairy milk price cuts is a case in point, with many Derbyshire hill farmers feeling they will be forced out of business simply because they cannot compete with the very large ‘industrial scale’ farms common in other parts of the country.
“Added to the economic downturn and significant financial hardship, this has left farmers at increased risk of a range of mental and physical health problems such as depression and anxiety.
“But the ‘care farms’ initiative enables them to generate additional income for the farm by giving vulnerable people a breath of fresh air while also promoting their own sense of self-worth.”
Julia Cook, manager at The Farming Life Centre, said: “Caring for animals and the land is a natural and effective way for vulnerable people to improve self-confidence and well-being.
“The experience is not only wonderful for participants, but it’s a rewarding way for farmers to bring some additional income into the business, pass on valuable skills and knowledge and positively overcome some of the social hardships that have been facing the community over the past decade.”
Tags: General Health | Mental Health | NHS | UK News
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