Care Farming Scotland: Progress and next steps

1. Care Farming Scotland: Progress and next steps Professor Bill McKelvey CEO & Principal, SAC

2. “To enhance the rural economy and environment” Pics ? eg SAC/SEPA conf

3. Our Core Values • Behaving Professionally • Being Objective • Forward Looking • Making a Difference

4. Supporting Charity Gift boxes to Romania Sick Kids Friends Foundation SAC/Hansel Fun Run Drive for Zoe Race for Life Edinburgh Marathon

5. Gardening Leave : Auchincruive

6. Advice on Diversification

7. Care Farming : The concept • People with • learning difficulties • mental health issues • work-related stress • drug and alcohol problems • employability challenges • Farm work helps to re-build confidence, self-esteem, social skills and responsibility

8. Care Farming : Scotland A New Initiative with: • Potential to give safe and structured environments to those with depression, mental illness, drugs/alcohol history, learning disability, the unemployed, homeless and those recovering from ill-health • Potential for Farm Diversification • Steering Committee First met June 2008 at Royal Highland Show Steering Group convened for first time in August 2008

9. Care Farming : Scotland A New Initiative with: • Potential to give safe and structured environments to those with depression, mental illness, drugs/alcohol history, learning disability, the unemployed, homeless and those recovering from ill-health • Potential for Farm Diversification • Steering Committee • Practitioners, providers and policy makers • Scoping study • Developing a strategy

10. Care Farming : Scotland A New Initiative with: • Potential to give safe and structured environments to those with depression, mental illness, drugs/alcohol history, learning disability, the unemployed, homeless and those recovering from ill-health • Potential for Farm Diversification • Steering Committee • Aiming to become a fully registered Charity by Oct 2009 • Elect Board and further develop activities

11. Care Farming Scotland Support growth of Care Farming in Scotland, through: • Promoting awareness of Care Farming • Facilitating links between interested service providers & land managers • Seeking to influence policy

12. SAC’s commitment to CFS • SAC to provide secretariat for 2009/10 as the Charity develops its role • Advising potential care farms in Scotland • Exploring feasible business models as a diversification option for farming families

13. New opportunity for SAC • Care Farming Scotland links with SAC’s commitment to social responsibility and to working with and beyond the land-based sector • It links with the wider rural community work of SAC

14. New opportunity for farmers • SAC supports the opportunities that Care Farming brings to farming families who wish to diversify • Believes that Care Farming could be ideally suited to some farming families

15. New opportunity for Health sector • SAC is delighted to be involved with an initiative which so clearly links the land-based sector with wellbeing and health • Evidence shows care farming has health benefits, and SAC is committed to working alongside farmers who are creating opportunities for increased wellbeing through care farming