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.
Work2Learn Animal Care
When: Mondays (term time) 10.00am-2.00pm
Where: St Werburghs City Farm
Age: 11-17
Cost: £95 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 – Farm & Forest Skills
When: Tuesdays (term time) 10.00am-2.00pm
Where: St Werburghs City Farm
Age: 11-17
Cost: £95 per session
Young people learn a variety of skills related to animal care and woodcraft, such as foraging, bush craft, vegetable growing, crafting and cooking, and skills related to maintenance of the farm site. Young people have the opportunity to develop skills, attitudes and behaviours relating to a working environment. The sessions focus on building self-esteem, confidence and the ability to work with others. Students need to have an interest in animals and woodcraft and a willingness to work outdoors as part of a small team.
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: £95 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.
