Wisbech Community Farm is leading the way nationally

Wisbech Community Farm – officially opened this summer and run by People and Animals – will open its doors on Friday, September 20, to representatives from health, social care, education and animal welfare sectors, to see what has so far been achieved and to highlight the benefits of such a scheme.

Katie Bristow, director of animal-assisted interventions at People and Animals, explained: “As we are the first bespoke community farm of its kind in the country designed literally from the grass seed up, we are a unique model that other practitioners from across the UK are looking at to see how they can follow our lead in their own communities.

“Our farm, built on land provided by Wisbech Town Council, supported by Anglian Water’s One Alliance and our community, with funding from various sources including Clarion Housing and the National Lottery, is something special for all to be proud of.”

After the successful farm opening day the Animals and People team have continued moving forward with their plans for their new army of animals.

Alongside a busy summer filled with their regular community outreach services, such as the canine café TOAST and Friends of Waterlees Gardening Club, based at the Oasis Community Centre and the Queen Mary Centre, funded by Clarion Futures and European Social Funding, the team have also managed to support a further 20 young people and families with their summer club funded by Children in Need.

As the farm gets ready to start the autumn term, with its alternative education provision, People and Animals have been able to create a nationwide splash, with practitioners from all over the UK travelling to Wisbech, to visit the farm and see what the local community have been able to achieve.

People and Animals started in 2013 when Katie collaborated with Julie Milsom, director of Hereford Community Farm, to provide a range of talks, discussions and practical learning opportunities to those interested in the subtle techniques required for effective working with people and animals.

The team have already hosted events with organisations across the UK, including: Dogs Helping Kids, Society for Companion Animal Studies (SCAS), Our Special Friends, Turn About Pegasus, and the K9 Project.

Next week’s Wisbech event is focussing on the well-being of young people and is entitled “The Human-Animal Bond: Innovative Ideas to Improve Young People’s Well-being”.

Bringing professionals from across the health, social care, education and animal welfare sectors together, the day will be full of interesting ideas to explore and discuss.

The aim of the event is to provide an insight into establishing community- based approaches, like the farm in Lynn Road, to help those who are isolated in the community or suffer mental health issues.

Katie added: “It will provide networking opportunities, and a chance to look at best practice and develop the field further within the UK.”