Vulnerable Sheffield Children Down on the Farm

Vulnerable Sheffield children with serious issues will receive help and
support down on the farm thanks to Yorkshire Freemasons

Hundreds of vulnerable children and young people from across the region will receive
support on a working farm to overcome a range of serious issues and return to education,
thanks to a grant from Yorkshire West Riding Freemasons to Whirlow Hall Farm Trust.

The £54,000 grant will see well over 300 local children spending extended periods at the
farm near Sheffield where they will work to overcome mental health and physical illness and the aftermath of life-changing events such as bereavement.

The children who are referred to Whirlow Hall Farm are disengaged from education due to
the issues they are facing. Whirlow provides activities which are fun, engaging, and tailored to the needs of learners, with every young person having their own goals and
achievements.  They are supported to reduce their anxieties and reengage with education.
They may return to their school, secure a place at a new or special school, or gain
qualifications during their time at Whirlow to support them to access further education.

The children and young people get involved in real farm jobs and activities based on their
age, abilities and interests. This could be anything from egg collecting to moving large
animals around the farm to helping with lambing. Each youngster has their own needs and
interests and attends between one to three days per week for a minimum of 12 weeks but
most stay much longer. The activities are all linked to the curriculum and learning is
embedded throughout. Additionally, there are classroom-based activities to support their
learning and for when the weather is not suitable for being outdoors all day.
The results of the programme are extremely positive, with 85 per cent of children who have attended the Farm showing a reduction of anxieties after 12 weeks. For those who stay for longer, at 6 months this increases to 95 per cent. Once they are back at school, 70 per cent reported improved behaviour and better engagement in lessons leading to a reduced chance of exclusion. Last year, 86 per cent progressed in a way that was suitable for them. The team at Whirlow expect this to be at least 90 per cent at the end of this academic year.
The grant from Yorkshire West Riding Freemasons comes through the Masonic Charitable
Foundation, which is funded by Freemasons, their families and friends, from across Englandand Wales.

Ben Davies, Whirlow’s Chief Executive, said:
“We’re very grateful to Yorkshire West Riding Freemasons for their generous grant, which
will allow us to help hundreds of very vulnerable children and young people get back to
school. The therapeutic activities on our working farm are a proven way to help them
overcome all manner of serious issues ranging from physical and mental health problems
through to bereavement. Thanks to the Freemasons we can continue to provide this vital
service.”

James H Newman OBE, Head of Yorkshire, West Riding Freemasons, said:
“I’m delighted Freemasonry has been able to support the Whirlow Hall Farm Trust in their
hugely valuable work with children who have serious and complex needs. Providing them
with a safe, relaxed, and fun environment, by which they can recover their confidence and
health, and ultimately re-engage with education, is absolutely crucial to their long-term
future. The remarkable results of the Trust’s programme speak for themselves.”