€900,000 in funding approved for the Social Farming Network located in Drumshanbo, Leitrim

Funding has more than doubled from €400,000 to €900,000 for the Social Farming Network located in Drumshanbo, Leitrim, it was revealed this week. 

The Social Farming Network was opened in April 2015 by the Leitrim Development Company with the assistance of the Department of Agriculture Food and the Marine.

Social Farming offers people who are socially, physically, mentally or intellectually disadvantaged the opportunity to spend time on a family farm in a healthy, supportive and inclusive environment and includes activities such as gardening, animal care or indoor activities such as baking bread or jam making.

Social farming activity takes place in a safe and supportive environment taking into account an individuals abilities, desires and interests and focus remains on encouraging participants to socialise, gain confidence and build relationships.

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Speaking to the Leitrim Observer, Brian Smyth, Social Farming National Project Manager said the company has worked with the Department of Agriculture since 2016 on the delivery of the Social Farming Network. "This is the next stage of that and the department has increased the amount of money for the annual delivery of that contact. We've tendered for it earlier in the year and were successful in that tender so we are delighted that the department is committing."

He said that social farming is "a good diversification option for farmers and contributes to economic development in rural areas but more importantly, it's delivering inclusion and valuable supports for the people who participate. Participants go out onto an ordinary farm - there is Garda vetting and all the usual safeguarding and safety issues addressed - and the farmer makes themselves and their farm available for small groups to come out and visit them; probably three people maximum; and spend time there based on a personal plan to support them to achieve various goals. Participants can be people who have come out of the justice system, people with addictions, people with disabilities or in recovery from mental health conditions, asylum seekers etc. The farmer and farm provides a place for non clinical support in getting people back on track and addressing the issues and challenges they have in their lives."

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The programme is rolled out across 200 farms around the country and the funding will go towards continuing the work that has been done over the last ten years. "There are a number of farms participating in Leitrim. We deliver the national project out of the office here in Drumshanbo. The tender we have won is for the next five years."

He said that for participants, social farming can "rebuild people in many different ways - through wellbeing, physical and mental health - and reconnect them to nature."