Pennine Lancashire Community Farm 2014 Annual Report

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1 Registered Charity Number: Porta Cabin Buildings, March St Community Garden Site, Burnley, BB12 0BU Pennine Lancashire Community Farm 2014 Annual Report AGM Year Five years celebration After five years of operation Pennine Lancashire Community Farm celebrates five key points of optimum operation. 21 Million Pound Saving. Firstly, Pennine Lancashire Community Farm represents a 21 million pound return on the financial investment in respect to a social impact bond. This is based on a simple calculation using the following two simple set of figures: PLCF has a cost of 992k to operate over the last five years; with 93% representing income brought into the area, by PLCF, rather than traditional sources of localised public money or put in another way council tax income. A study undertaken by Salford University in partnership with PLCF suggested a value of of public saving for every 1 invested in the type of service provided by PLCF. [This figure itself was based on previous studies done though the Be Active programme in line with National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence information] Improved Physical and Mental Wellbeing for 3000 Individuals. Secondly, our work has resulted in improved physical and mental wellbeing for over 3000 individuals of all ages, cultures, backgrounds and abilities. In particularly our work on Mental Health has been assessed and verified, in part, through an effective partnership with Lancashire Care Foundation Trust Community Restart project and Salford University. This has shown a 93% success rate in respect to improved sense of mental wellbeing for many individuals with complex, long term, mental health needs. Promoted Understanding and Reduced Stigma Thirdly, working with such diverse groups of individuals including, but not limited to: members of the BME communities; adults with learning and or physical disabilities; adult recovering from substance misuse; old and young alike etc. PLCF can state categorically we have helped reduce stigma, misunderstanding and promote integration. 100 Individuals in Work Fourthly 100 job opportunities have been created and enabled by Pennine Lancashire Community Farm including for many at high risk or previously in position of long term unemployment and, or inactivity. This has included adults / young people with learning disabilities, mental health difficulties, and individuals recovering from substance misuse with a history of long term offending patterns etc. Furthermore, this creation of jobs alongside our general volunteers has enabled the improvement of over, 50 plus green spaces across Burnley and Pendle many in amongst the terraced housing stock bringing new life to derelict land.

2 Highly Respected Recognised Charity Fifthly, Pennine Lancashire Community Farm has gone from a small dedicated group of individuals to a registered charity that has achieved Investors in People recognition, and successfully passed PQASSO assessment. This is not least in part down to all the dedicated Trustees, but in particular the leadership and ongoing commitment of the Chairperson Stewart Bone. General developments Over the year in strategic terms, three aspects have happened: Pennine Lancashire Community Farm has gone through a Management Review process, to help identify our strengths and weaknesses. Two main aspect have now come out of that review: o Firstly the undertaking, assessment and completion of both Investors in People and PQASSO quality assurance standards. o Secondly, the recognition of the need to integrate and develop a cohesive step based programme incorporating a range of difficult elements provided by or through PLCF. The steps are as follows: Step one Eco Therapy Step two Training / Development Step three the Gardening Service social enterprise Over the next year we are looking forward to developing this concept further, both in theory and practice. Pennine Lancashire Community Farm, as part of unified partnership, continues to raise the profile and concepts behind Eco Therapy and its benefits. In particular, this has included the financial benefits, a point which is highlighted above. Whilst we have continued to serve a wide range of individuals from differing backgrounds, including adults with learning / physical disabilities; adults living with or recovering from mental health difficulties, adults recovering from substance misuse, long term inactive etc. It remains extremely necessary to adapt to many changes in government / local policies, sometimes resulting in conflict and hardship for many our volunteers and at times has proved challenging for the Charity. Staff Development The numbers of staff have varied throughout the year subject to the current status of projects, we currently have a core team of operation including: James Horsford Manager. Edward Milne Deputy Manager. Jonathan Bruce Overall Site Supervisor. Amyee Collins Office Co-ordinator / Childrens Worker In addition to these staff we have: Six other staff ranging from part time to 37hrs per week, included within these are: o Two Peer to Peer Supervisors: Mark Lister Eric Ferguson o Two specialist tutors including: Margaret Foster RHS gardener Harold Dawe Horticultural therapist

3 o General project staff Kaasim Pedder [Apprentice] Mark Hayes [Gardening Service Co-ordinator] In addition we really benefit from Keith Wilsons regular volunteering to operate the Weekly Forestry Volunteer Opportunities. Physical Developments In terms of March Street Community Gardens, our primary site of operation, we have seen a number of developments commencing this year however, in reality, these will take a number of years to come to be full fruition including: Planting of over 500 trees creating a natural fruit corridor in the medium to long term. Commencing the creation of willow bank, designed to both support drainage and provide willow for use in a Social Enterprise, which will link up the Gardening Services Enterprise. The creation of semi commercial growing areas for development and distribution of fresh produce directly to those most in need, through our own internal contacts, and in partnership with the local Food Bank. Starting the creation of a seven aside football pitch for the local young people, directly in response to children and young people's request. This work has not always been easy and, in parts, has been hampered by the poor weather, vandalism and the arson of the redundant school building, resulting in the Council having to demolish the building limiting access for a period of time. Furthermore, as previously mentioned we have continued to be involved in a wide range of outdoor sites throughout the year including gardening sites, forestry sites, nature areas etc. This has included: Complete updates and refurbishment of the Outdoor Amphitheatre at Padiham Memorial Park, which is due to be used by different performance groups later in the year. The creation of a New Community Garden Space in Barnoldswick, particularly focusing on working with and engaging those at high risk of isolation in society that are effected by policies in respect to free bus passes etc. Brief project update Please find below a brief layout of all the projects we now operate and the primary outputs: Branch Out Project this project s primary objective is to provide Eco Therapy activities to individuals recovering / living with Mental ill Health. In total we have served 46 individuals with a range of mental health needs, this year. Health and Wellbeing Sessions this is the broad project title given to the work we undertake with individuals recovering from substance abuse. In total we have served 30 individuals recovering from substance abuse. It is worth noting we now have numerous examples of individuals, who after decades of substance abuse and the interconnected criminal behaviour, are now not only clean of any substance but are also now in employment. All Things Eco Project this is the broad project title given to the work we undertake with Adults with Learning / Physical disabilities. This project operates three days a week with us providing a range of

4 activities adapted to the needs of the individuals. In total we have served 41 individuals with varying abilities. One volunteer said of their experience: The skills have enabled me to be involved in doing gardening at the residential houses, getting paid every month for doing the work and it helped me get a job at Asda. Grow and Learn the work with both Stoneyholme Nursery School and Stoneyholme Primary School continues to operate extremely well with all the children accessing the site and undertaking specific sessions in connection with national curriculum. In total we have served 146 children. One head teacher said. It has most definitely helped us achieve our aims, helping children make sense of the world, help children understand where food comes from, develop a sense of responsibility looking after natural things plants etc. From East to West from Ground to Plate / Chilli Club this project enables local people to have individual growing beds combined with support, which enables them to grow their own fruit and vegetables. In total we have served 132 individuals from a range of cultures including a large number of the ethnic minority groups; this project really helps in respect to supporting different cultures, generations and abilities to work together. This project is extremely popular with the local community with all 130 plus beds filled with no advertising, just on the basis of word of mouth, and many individuals requesting permission to reserve their beds for the next growing season, months before the deadlines. Furthermore as part of this project we are in the final stage of producing a book highlighting different fruit and vegetables that can be ground in this country alongside suggested recipes and people s memories. Get Grubby Out of School / Saturday Kitchen In total we have served 47 children who have been involved in a range of outdoor activities after school and during the holiday periods. Growing into Employment project This work has mainly been done through our partnership with Learn Direct in total we have served 99 individuals. Gardening Services so far we have undertaken a number of projects under this banner including Colne Millennium Garden, creation of a Mud Kitchen for Stoneyholme Nursery, Creation of Individuals Growing Beds etc. Partnership created and maintained As an organisation it is essential we continue to work in effective partnerships with over 24 organisations, the nature of these partnership include: Organisations that simply refer individuals to us for support. Organisations that refer individuals with support in order to enable them to access PLCF services. Other charities / community interest companies that provide similar services to ourselves with whom we work together with to promote eco-therapy. Organisations that support and enable us to have active public profile. Finance update As with every other Charity we have continued to feel the difficulties of the economic down turn with individual funding organisations often oversubscribed and only able to give small amounts. Accepting this position we have managed to maintain a full and active project.

5 As always we continue to look forward at the positive aspects including: Working with new and existing partners to optimise existing and new funding coming on board in particular government money, in terms of long term unemployed. Developing and operating funding systems / financial systems that enables and activity supports small or large income in from different sources. Development of Gardening Services bringing in small income sources from the physical work we undertake to support the operation of Pennine Lancashire Community Farm, whilst ensuring volunteer involved receive equal and appropriate benefit. To work with the relevant individuals from the Clinical Commissioning Groups and the Health and Wellbeing Partnerships. Priorities next year As next year comes Pennine Lancashire Community Farm has three main priorities: To maintain it s existing and achieve its target outputs and outcomes as agreed within the management review. To continue to develop and maintain effective partnerships as mentioned throughout this report, in particular in relationship to joint funding applications in respect to national government sources. To expand the research we undertake in respect to our desired outputs and outcomes, to incorporate the following elements: physical / mental health, cohesion / inclusion, education / social economic wellbeing. To expand our concept of the Step Programme including, but not limited to, the Gardening Services social enterprise programme. In particular noting its essential role in providing ongoing opportunities for individuals that have benefit from Eco Therapy or Work Place opportunities already at Pennine Lancashire Community Farm, but who are unlikely to enter open employment. Concluding statements In conclusion we can continue to state in number terms that we have worked with over 750 individuals of all ages, abilities, cultures, and background etc. However, perhaps the best summary of the role and purpose of Pennine Lancashire Community Farm is expressed in a statement recorded recently. This statement comes from a complete stranger to the charity, which is the Father of a young man in his mid 30 s, who has recently being volunteering on the work placement programme. On entering the site unannounced and unplanned he stated to a staff member: He was J s Father and he just wanted to see the place that has managed to get his son engaged, active and happy for the first time in 15 years. Truly, the definition of a cohesive sustainable community can only come when individuals are engaged, active and happy. Yours Sincerely James Horsford