A farm started by a former school teacher has been named charity of year in recognition of its work with disadvantaged children. The award was announced by the South of England Agricultural Society.

Jamie’s Farm was started Jamie Feilden in 2005 – when he was still a school teacher – as a way of providing crucial opportunities for young people on the verge of exclusion from school. Feilden created a residential programme on his farm to show the children what they were capable of as a way of bringing them back into society.

Feilden’s first farm opened in Bath with a further three opening since – in Hereford, London, and Monmouth in Wales. The charity also hopes to open a further farm in April this year in Lewes in Sussex.

Jamie Feilden said:

Each day, thirty-five children are excluded from school. Our new farm in Lewes will give four hundred and fifty young people a year across the South the opportunity to see life from a different perspective.

The team has said that it still needs to raise a further £350,000 to ensure the new farm is completed.  Information on how to donate can be found at www.jamiesfarm.org.uk.

The South of England Agricultural Society is itself a big supporter of plans to bring a Jamie’s Farm to Sussex. In addition to the award, the charity will help promote the fundraising campaign to their members and supporters, as well as provide further showcasing opportunities at various events throughout the year, including their South of England Show in June.

Feilden added:

We are thrilled to be working with the South of England Agricultural Society to fulfil our goal of being the catalyst for change in these youngsters’ lives.

Image by South of England Agricultural Society