FarmAbility is an outdoor, farm-based programme for people with learning disabilities and autism. These are our co-farmers.
The FarmAbility programme combines the rich ingredients of the farming environment (nature, animals, and purposeful activities) with an approach that supports people to progress through meaningful occupation. FarmAbility’s ‘enabling’ approach, which incorporates learning from Occupational Therapy and other relevant practice, considers each person’s specific interests, needs and abilities in order to encourage independence, choice and autonomy through the development of skills and the building of confidence.
FarmAbility co-farmers are actively involved throughout the year in vegetable growing, orchard management, horse care, animal husbandry, woodwork, an organic egg enterprise, and a range of seasonal farm tasks. We look for opportunities to engage with our local community where co-farmers can create more social connections. Working in small groups supported by a fantastic team of staff, volunteers and students, co-farmers gain a real sense of purpose and achievement, while building the practical and vocational skills they need to move forward in their lives.
Our location
FarmAbility programmes are delivered on a number of different sites and we administrate the programme from an office in Eynsham. Currently, we are running sessions each week at Park Farm on the Blenheim Estate, at FAI Farms in Wytham, at Willowbrook Farm near Kidlington and at the Market Garden in Long Hanborough. We also deliver some sessions with our partner outreach locations.