Over the past year we have continued to see an increase in demand for our services. All volunteers help on the Farm getting involved in horticulture, helping with the café or shop or our food work. Last year Rhubarb Farm supported 142 individuals, delivering over 19,200 hours of support.
We also offer enrichment activities throughout the year as it provides opportunities for our volunteers to try new things. Many of these are offered through the winter when there is less work on the Farm. This year we have been able to increase our activity offer through the employment of a training assistant.
What has the Vegware funding been spent on?
Vegware funding has been used to buy logs for our new safe space The Snug. We were fortunate to receive funding from The Rank Foundation in 2022 to remodel our old forest school into a safe indoor space equipped with a log burning stove. The Snug is host to activities for volunteers, is a wet weather shelter and a quiet space when needed.
This report focuses on the activities around The Snug as we often need the fire on to make the room warm and welcoming. I hope this demonstrates how the Vegware contribution embeds itself across what we do at the Farm.
Activities for volunteers
One of the first sessions held in The Snug was a six-week talking and art therapy session run by Dr Melanie Hani, Derbyshire County Council’s Public Health Wellbeing Counsellor.
This was run for four volunteers whom we felt would benefit from some clinical support. The forum was confidential to the participants, and each were referred on to appropriate support groups where necessary.
In November The Snug was cold so the log burning fire made it a welcoming space for participants.
Santa’s Grotto
In 2022 our Christmas event for the community was Breakfast with Santa. The Snug made a perfect Santa’s grotto where children and their families got to meet Santa and receive a present. We always aim to offer affordable fun events for the community.
Decorating The Snug
Volunteers decided how they wanted to decorate The Snug so early this year Ben, our training assistant organised several workshops where they created Moss Art and a Fidget wall to put on the walls.
Moss Art
Moss was gathered from the local woods and then volunteers spent the day creating individual pieces of art. These were then fixed together to create one large piece that now takes pride of place in The Snug.
Fidget Wall
We got donations of items from our community to create a fidget wall that our volunteers could use when in The Snug.
Cushions
A local joiner created in built seating and Georgina (our mental health worker) made the cushions to sit on. She then worked with our volunteers to create the smaller back cushions.
Tale of Two Projects
In March we held an opening event for The Snug and showcased the work our volunteers had been doing on it. We also displayed artwork they had created in workshops across the year. We invited The Rank Foundation to cut the ribbon on the building and welcomed friends, families, volunteers and our partners to enjoy the day. Our music group entertained the attendees over pie and peas lunch.
Volunteer Voices
In January we set up Volunteer Voices, a forum to get feedback from volunteers on all aspects of life on the Farm. The forum is run by volunteers and supported by the volunteer coordinator. After an initial survey was completed with volunteers, they reviewed the feedback and made suggestions to staff. An action plan has now been made for the rest of the year. So far, as a result of feedback we have organised a visit to the animal care centre at Derby College, had an insect talk from our beekeeper, included some entertainment at our volunteer celebration and doing a sponsored walk in Autumn.
The Snug is home to the volunteer voices forum and provides a quiet space to meet and discuss issues.
Music Group
We hold a weekly singing group at the Farm which is now held in The Snug.
Students
The Snug has been particularly popular with our alternative provision students. Many struggle with anxiety, and behaviour management so have used The Snug as a quiet, safe space when they need time one to one with a member of staff. Having the fire on means they spend time in their comfortably.
Update
In the previous update we reported on our Rhu-baby pilot where we were holding some pop-up events selling new and preloved baby products. It was originally thought that we would roll Rhu-baby out in our food hubs however this wasn’t possible. It has however found a home at Whaley Thorns Village Hall courtesy of Langwith Parish Council where we are running it along side a food hub on a Friday.
We are now running the community café two days a week for people who may be socially isolated. Customers enjoy a two-course meal and good company. This was increased from one day due to demand over the winter months.
We continue to support food hubs across Bassetlaw, working in collaboration with the Bassetlaw Food Insecurity Network (BFIN), Fareshare and funded by Feeding Britain. Last year we helped to set up food hubs in schools and nurseries, these are now being run independently but Rhubarb Farm supports them get the food to sell.
What’s next?
We hope to be able to offer more health and wellbeing sessions in The Snug, including activities to get volunteers closer to nature and learning about the nature around us. We are also hoping to get some walking activities running to encourage volunteers to walk more. Our volunteers have suggested a sponsored walk so this has been pencilled in for October when we will work together to walk the equivalent distance of Lands End to John O Grouts.
We would like to thank Vegware for your support in 22-23
