Sowing SEEDS for Future Roots
05 May 2010
A not-for-profit Care Farming initiative to
help support the health and social care needs of communities in
Dorset, Wiltshire and Somerset is set to grow after a £128,600 RDPE
grant. The money has been given to Future Roots at Rylands Farm
near Sherborne by Sowing SEEDS, the Local Action Group (LAG) for
North Dorset and South Wiltshire).
Future Roots gives children and families the
opportunity for learning and personal development in a farming and
countryside environment. In addition, a number of people who are
having difficulties in mainstream school or in their lives
generally are referred to Future Roots. The impact of this is
recorded by monitoring set targets which include prevention of
exclusion, reduced offending, increased employability and leading
healthier lifestyles
“This RDPE grant from Sowing SEEDS will help
us make a real difference in a number of ways,” said Julie Plumley
of Future Roots.
“Future Roots will have an impact on bringing
farmers, rural trade and craftspeople into contact with groups and
individuals who would otherwise be unlikely to meaningfully
‘connect’ with a farm or the countryside. It will also have an
impact on personal achievement and attainment for young people
engaged in accredited learning or enrichment activities at the
Farm.”
“We are also developing links with local
groups and health and social care authorities, as we also know how
important our service is to older members of the community.”
Sowing SEEDS Chair, Michael Mounde, said the
grant is the largest the LAG had awarded since the fund was started
last year.
“We are delighted to be able to support Future
Roots to reach its goals and support people within our community
who will benefit by the service provided here,” he said.
“This funding programme really does give our
community the power to influence how it would like to support
projects that will ultimately benefit local people and the local
economy for many years to come.”
“We are keen for people to contact us with
their project ideas. 2010 is already proving an exciting year for
Sowing SEEDS, one where we will begin to realise the legacy that
can be achieved by harnessing local knowledge with the assistance
of the community led approach of RDPE funding in rural
areas.”
Ends
Note to Editors
Sowing SEEDS is a locally led funding
programme that covers the Cranborne Chase & West Wiltshire
Downs AONB, and the Community Partnerships Executive area of North
and East Dorset. The programme has £2.85 million to invest into the
area until December 2013. The money must be used to support
projects that deliver the Sowing SEEDS objectives in individual
communities or across the whole area, whilst being innovative and
community led, bringing benefit to people and the local economy.
The Sowing SEEDS Local Action Group (LAG) is an open forum of local
people that help decide which projects receive grant funding. More
than 200 people have joined the LAG with over 80 regularly
attending meetings to help guide the Programme. The LAG would
like to encourage applications, both big and small, from projects
which support rural businesses, develop the local food sector and
encourage communities to make the best use of their natural and
cultural resources. The Sowing SEEDS LAG has currently approved a
number of projects and there are currently many others seeking
approval from the Executive Board. Plenty more projects being
developed with the assistance of the dedicated Sowing SEEDS project
support officer.
For further information please contact Sarah
Dyke, Project Support Officer on 07826 907361 or
sarah@sowing-seeds.org or visit
the Sowing SEEDS website: www.sowing-seeds.org.