Solidarity Farm cultivates opportunities for young minds
Rooted in the North East, Solidarity Farm combines farming with tailored learning experiences, supporting young people who struggle in mainstream education.
The social enterprise is located on a 200-acre organic farm on the edge of Northumberland National Park, near Rothbury, enriching lives and creating new opportunities for the community.
Offering funded farm visits for SEN schools, funded holiday activities for those eligible for free school meals and alternative education in small groups and one-to-one, young people can learn new skills through engagement with daily farm life including animal care, tree planting and creating new habitats for wildlife.
Social entrepreneur John Harrison set up the farm thanks to support from the North East BIC and the Business with Purpose programme, with the aim of linking the wider social and therapeutic benefits of farming with specialised support, creating a fresh approach to wellbeing and education.
He said: “Our focus is on providing a safe space and a sense of belonging for youngsters to explore their potential.
“Farming and nature offer a freedom that can help them grow both personally and socially, transforming their day-to-day life skills and it’s amazing to see how the environment can shift their mindset and positively impact their mental health.”
Providing a green space for youths to thrive, John founded solidarity farm in 2022. After years of working in farming and with local charities, he recognised the untapped potential of farms as spaces for healing, growth and learning.
Inspired by the positive effects nature can have on mental health and wellbeing, he envisioned a place that could help others to succeed outside of traditional education systems.
Receiving expert advice from the earliest stages of development, the BIC has played a crucial role in bringing Solidarity Farm to fruition. From guidance on business planning to development, and fundraising, the BIC team helped turn John’s vision into reality.
Delivered by the North East BIC, the Business with Purpose project is funded by the UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.
“The BIC helped me develop my ideas, nail down a solid business plan and explore funding possibilities. They also supported me with fundraising bids and helped me understand the wider social enterprise economy of the North East,” John added.
“The support and guidance they’ve given me has been invaluable and it’s allowed me to play a role in making a real difference in the community – I’m really grateful for the support I’ve received from the team.”
Solidarity Farm has already delivered inspiring results and now has hopes to expand its alternative education offerings and share knowledge with other family farms so that they can leverage their unique resources to support young people and develop their own social enterprises.
The BIC is one of the region’s longest-established social enterprises, offering expert business advice, development plans and funding advice for those looking to start or grow their own social enterprise.
Ernest Dodds, social enterprise adviser at the BIC, said: “It’s been a pleasure working with John to set up Solidarity Farm. He’s so passionate about his work and is truly dedicated to making a difference to the surrounding community.
“It’s great to see how the social enterprise has flourished and how it is supporting those who struggle in mainstream education, as well as its aspirations to reach out to other farms and let them know how they can get involved, and we look forward to seeing it continue to grow.”
To find out more about the BIC and the social enterprise support it offers, visit: https://www.ne-bic.co.uk/social-enterprise/
To learn more about Solidarity Farm and its inspiring work, visit solidarityfarm.org.uk