SOCIAL FARMING: AN ENHANCEMENT TO TRADITIONAL DAY CARE SERVICES LESSONS FROM THE SOFAB PROJECT ( )

Transcription

1 SOCIAL FARMING: AN ENHANCEMENT TO TRADITIONAL DAY CARE SERVICES LESSONS FROM THE SOFAB PROJECT ( ) Jim Kinsella, School of Agriculture & Food Science UCD Aoibeann Walsh and Roy Nelson, Queens University Belfast AOTI Conference 9 th May 2014 Outline Social Farming explained Background EU and Ireland The Social Farming Across Borders Project Experience from 60 participants and 20 farms Future? 1

2 What is Social Farming? The use of commercial farms and agricultural landscapes as a base for promoting mental and physical health through normal farming activity and is a growing movement to provide health, social or educational benefits through farming for a wide range of people Sempix, J., R. Hine and D. Wilcox, 2010 Not just one definition: different names Green Care Farming for Health Care Farming Social Farming 2

3 Social Farming in Practice THE FARM IS NOT A SPECIALISED TREATMENT FARM; RATHER IT REMAINS A TYPICAL WORKING FARM WHERE PEOPLE IN NEED OF SUPPORT CAN BENEFIT FROM PARTICIPATION IN FARM ACTIVITIES IN A NON- CLINICAL ENVIRONMENT. SOFAB WEBSITE Participants Video I visited one of the 20 farms that welcome adults with special needs and mental health difficulties into their family life. These people all have labels but when they step on these farms, they leave their labels at the gate 3

4 Rationale for Social Farming? Not a new practice long history of therapeutic and rehabilitation value of nature and interaction with animals, plants and soils Institutional farms and gardens for health care were traditionally run by religious institutions fewer available Trend has been an increase in community-based supports over time Demand for health services increasing more opportunities needed 7 Recognition at EU level Social farming is an innovative approach that brings together two concepts: multipurpose farming and social services/health care at local level. It makes a contribution in the ambit of agricultural production to the well-being and the social integration of people with particular needs. EU Economic and Social Committee (Dec. 2012) 8 4

5 No. Farms 04/06/2014 Social Farming in Europe (2007) Social Farming Europe Holland Italy France Norway Flanders Austria Germany UK Country 9 Use of Social Farming type services in Ireland Sector Mental Health Intellectual Disability Physical Disability Prisoner Rehab Older Drugs & Alcohol Recovery Social Inclusion/ Community Develop. Total No % 15 % 54% 8% 2% 4% 12% 19% Source McGloin, A. and O Connor, D. (2007). Social Farming in Ireland: State of the Art. Presentation to the European Platform on Social Farming,

6 Social Farming Across Borders Project ( ) EU INTERREG IVA Programme Priority 2: Cooperation for a more sustainable cross-border region Duration: 3 years Oct to Sept Partners: - University College Dublin (Lead Partner) - Queen s University Belfast - Leitrim Development Company Social Farming Across Borders Project ( ) Coverage: 6 Border Counties, Republic of Ireland Northern Ireland (all counties) Grant: 689,826 6

7 Social Farming Across Borders Project ( ) Built on experience of: IMPACT Project ( ) an EU Framework Project examining the impact of EU RD Policies in 7 EU states SoFAR Project (2006-8) an EU Framework Project (7 EU states incl. Ireland) European Research Network (EU Cost Action Project ) Community of Practice Group (Ireland) 2009-date Mission and Logo We promote Social Farming as a viable option for achieving improved quality of life for people who use health and social services and for farm families, through enhancing social inclusion and connecting farmers with their communities. New Opportunities Connecting People Improving Lives 7

8 Activities of the Project Awareness raising Networking Piloting Training Dissemination Awareness Raising Attendance and exhibit at Agricultural Shows, health services workshops Presentations at relevant events Media coverage press, radio and TV Newsletter Website incl. Facebook and Twitter One-to-one dialogue with service providers 8

9 Networking Network events (meetings) x 6 Network visits to social farming in RoI (April 2013) and UK (April 2014) Website online discussion forum Pilot Farms hosting Open Days Launch and Conferences (2) Piloting the farmers Initial Expressions of Interest from 144 Farm households Project call for interested farmers yielded 59 applications Selection based on objective criteria and farm-based interviews which identified 20 pilots with Reserve List of 10 farmers 9

10 Piloting the participants Identification of 60 service users: 35 with mild-moderate level of intellectual disability and 25 who are in treatment for mental health issues Selection based on dialogue with care service organisations who identified potentially interested individuals Dialogue to identify those interested in the farming experience Matching up clients and farms Individual Support Plan developed for each service user Piloting the practice Each service user spends 30 days (1 day/ week) on the farm (July 2013-May 2014) Accompanied by care worker in some but not in all cases Travel to and from farms organised through range of means e.g. family, taxis, rural transport services, service providers Modest capital investments to prepare farm for piloting (max grant of 2,500) Insurance packages discussed and developed for social farming with FBD and NFU Mutual 10

11 Doing things together Ordinary Farming Activities Farmers Video Farming Activities: Participants Experience Rating of Activities 1= 10= ACTIVITY All LD Group MH Group Being Outdoors In contact with animals Meeting new people Being on a farm Horticulture (gardening)

12 Farming Activities: Participants Experience What did you enjoy most? It s not necessarily something I would have been used to, you get a sense of accomplishment. It shows when we ve been on the farm, you feel tired, it s really good, an earned tiredness, it s a great feeling of accomplishment and independence Probably the morning time, go in and feed the animals What did you least enjoy? Being out in the rain, I hated that I don t like when there are not much animals Views of the Pilot Farmers 75% of pilot farmers highly likely/certain to continue 80% believed family involvement is essential What do you feel you are getting from the pilot experience? It s great feeling the social connectedness, community connectedness We re restoring things that have been neglected, learning new and old skills. It s a very social thing for the farmer as well. I mean there s always craic with them whereas most days you d be on your own 12

13 Training Training of Pilot Farmers (8 days/ farmer) covering: Values for Practice; Protection of Vulnerable Adults; Risk Management; Health and Safety; Enterprise Planning Develop and deliver a training programme for potential social farmers and care workers x 60 people based on lessons learnt (June-August 2014) Development of Guidelines for Social Farming publication Dissemination SoFAB Website National and Local shows/ events (e.g. NPC, Balmoral Show) Two Regional Conferences 200 attended Carrick-on-Shannon June 2013 with Proceedings (video) Conference in Belfast, Sept Short videos produced (5 x 5 mins) to share experiences of piloting (farmers, users and service agencies) Media press/ TV (e.g. RTE s Nationwide, 29 th November 2013) Academic journals: 2-3 papers targeted (e.g. Journal of Health Organisation and Management) 13

14 SoFAB Conference #1: June 2013: Living an Ordinary Life SoFAB Conference #2 Belfast, 10 th September 2014 Social Farming: New Opportunities in Health and Social Care 14

15 Next Steps? Social Farming establishment depends on: Representative network Public awareness Accredited training Quality assurance Public policy support Is the SoFAB project worth the effort? Initial position by the 3 partners was to acknowledge the value to society of social farming and the role they can play in its establishment Experience of service users, providers and care agencies reinforce worthwhileness of this initiative to date and the potential it offers for new opportunities in the future 15

16 16