From Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth
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The Minister of State for Disability, Anne Rabbitte, has today announced new funding of €200,000 in 2024 for the Social Farming Ireland Programme for support placements on social farms for people with disabilities.
Social farming offers individuals the opportunity to spend time on a family farm in a healthy, supportive and inclusive environment. Funding provided in 2023 supported 2,200 placement days for 203 people with disabilities on 60 social farms throughout Ireland. Under this programme, people can choose to participate in activities that they may be interested in such as animal care, gardening and general farmyard maintenance, or indoor activities including baking and jam making.
Announcing the funding, Minister Rabbitte said:
“I am delighted to announce that the Social Farming Ireland Programme has received funding for support placements on social farms for people with disabilities. This funding gives people with disabilities the opportunity to engage in natural community support in their local areas. I’ve seen first-hand the wonders this has and I’m delighted to be able to support Social Farming for a second year.
“Social farming has a number of benefits including those related to physical health and well-being, social connectivity, skills acquisition, confidence, capacity and vitality. I am pleased that this funding will enable individuals to take part in placements across Ireland and support them in being active, independent members of their communities."
The National Project Manager for Social Farming Ireland, Brian Smyth, said:
“This funding directly from the Department of Children, Equality, Disability Integration and Youth (DCEDIY) through the HSE is very welcome as it guarantees people access to support in their own communities. We are very grateful to Minister Rabbitte for this as she can see the value in community support and inclusion for people who choose these ordinary social farms to connect with others, with nature, with many and various activities in their own community for new opportunities and which enhances their lives.”
Social Farming provides a planned outcome focused, support placement for people on a farm using the natural assets of the people, the place, the activities and the community to support a person to achieve some of their own chosen goals. It is based on the person choosing to spend time with farmers and their families in the natural environment of the farm, engaging in valuable and meaningful activities, and developing social connections and relationships, both of which combine to deepen its impact further. There are approximately 200 social farms registered with Social Farming Ireland the national Network for social farming in Ireland and about 140 of these farms are active at any one time. Over 850 people engaged in social farming through this network in 2023.
More information is available on the Social Farming Ireland website.