Our Alternative Learning Opportunities

The farm is a nurturing environment where we support young people to develop social interactions, deepen their skills and feel more confident. Through planning and aims tailored to the needs of our young people and our supportive staff, we scaffold our programmes to help particpants meet new challenges and feel a sense of accomplishment.

Interested in Getting Involved?

Send us an email letting us know which outdoor educational experience(s) you’re interested in and we’ll get back to you.

Or contact the Child and Youth Team directly by emailing childandyouth@swcityfarm.co.uk or by calling 0117 9428241.

Work2Learn Animal Care

When: Mondays (term time) 10.00am-2.00pm
Where: St Werburghs City Farm
Age: 11-17
Cost: £75 per session

Young people learn the routine of being a farmer – helping care for the animals, cleaning animal homes, providing animal enrichment and ensuring there is enough food and water. Additionally, young people do some planting and crafting related to resources we have on the farm. Young people get the chance to develop close relationships with the animals as well as other members of their small group (up to 6 people). Young people develop a number of skills including how to check the health of animals, building skills, understanding how the seasons effect the care of animals, and the skill of perserverence in all weather conditions! We focus on wellbeing and confidence building.

Work2Learn Cafe

When: Tuesdays (term time) 10.00am-2.00pm
Where: St Werburghs City Farm
Age: 11-17
Cost: £75 per session

Young people learn how to use a variety of kitchen tools and food types to make delicious meals. We focus on seasonal food and ensure that young people learn about different food groups. Young people learn to follow hygiene guidelines, how to engage with customers, money handling and business skills.

1:1 Sessions

When: Normally Wednesdays or Thursdays (term time) but there is flexibility. These can be 1 or 2 hours depending on what is best for the young person.
Where: St Werburghs City Farm
Age: 11-17
Cost: £75 per 2 hour session/ £38 per 1 hour session

These sessions are tailored to the needs of the young person. We tend to do animal care work but can also include crafts, gardening and even some cooking. 1:1 sessions are designed for young people who may not be ready to join a group session or need something more tailored.

Ideally these sessions are used as a short term support to help a young people take a break from a mainstream setting that they are struggling with or to support them to develop enough confidence to join a group.

We recommend 6 sessions to start with the possibility of continuing to complete 12 sessions in total.

Woodland Magic: Primary Age Placement
When: Thursdays (term time) 9.30am-12.00pm
Where: Boiling Wells site (a short walk from the farm)
Age: 6-12 (year 7s welcome)

Cost: £60 per session

We are excited to present our new alternative learning placement for primary age children and year 7s. This is a pilot scheme starting in November. Participants will develop their social connections at the same time as learning new skills in the outdoors. Through carefully considered activities, including lighting fires, making bird feeders, exploring our nature reserve site and visiting the animals, children will develop confidence and resilience ready to take back to their classroom settings.
This course is run by a primary teacher with over a decade of experience and a level 3 qualified Forest School leader with a particular interest in young people with SEN.