January Newsletter
Happy New Year to you all!
We’re finally starting to thaw here at Jamie’s Farm after weeks of snow and ice. The unusual cold has given us lots to do and, as elsewhere in the country, has been making life somewhat difficult so we’re glad that it seems to have come to an end.
For photographs of the farm in the snow click here
However this hasn’t stopped us keeping busy on other aspects of Jamie’s Farm! We’re getting ever closer to completing on the deal for Hill House Farm and we hope to welcome the first group to our refurbished home in April.
Visits
As we prepare for the move to our new home we are working hard to ensure that all preparations are made for our young people. We are extremely busy developing relationships with new schools as well as returning to those who have already visited us. Our most recent visit has been to Bow Boys School, London where we facilitated a session with the boys who visited last summer, reflecting on their achievements and helping them to make links between their learning on the farm to their lives at home and school.
We are pleased to have launched our young peoples’ newsletter which will be sent out monthly to share all the latest news from down on the farm with those who have visited us, helping to maintain a connection with them, whilst keeping alive their memories of farm life. We hope that the young people themselves will be contributors to this, through stories, poems and pictures. If you know any young people who hve visted us here on the farm who would like to receive the newsletter, please email their email address to Jane Brinson at jane@jamiesfarm.org.uk.
Farm News
The last month’s cold has created lots of extra physical work on the farm, in particular carting containers of water to the animals. Luckily, all the livestock have coped well with weather (with extra feed helping them through). We couldn’t have managed without our trusty Land Rover which got us around in even the most treacherous conditions – and rescued many other drivers along the way!
The cows and sheep are now looking quite pregnant and we look forward to the birth of our first calf in the next month.
Fundraising
We are working very hard raise the funds required to allow more young people to access Jamie's Farm, and to pay for the major investments of the new farm and the required refurbishment. We’ve made a good start and were delighted to have been awarded grants from the Odin Trust and the Grocers Charity which will be used to hep cover the core costs of Jamie's Farm.
If you would like to offer any support in organising a fundraising event email Ruth Carney, or to make a donation online see jamiesfarm.org.uk. And remember, if you would like to buy one of our Jamie’s Farm calendars for £10, please email Jane Brinson at jane@jamiesfarm.org.uk while stocks last!
Events
Please join us on 13th February 2010, 8pm - 1am at the Thames Rowing Club
Enjoy good cheer, great food and great friends!
Dress code: black tie down on the farm
Email Jo Llewelyn, head party organiser, at valentine.fundraiser@
Jamie's Farm runs the Bath Half Marathon
We now only have a few Golden Bond places left for the Bath Half Marathon. If you would like to run, whilst raising money for Jamie's Farm, return the application form as soon as possible. We ask that our Golden Bond runners help support our work with vulnerable young people by fundraising a minimum of £200. Of course, the more you can fundraise the better - and we'll give you lots of support to achieve your target. Hurry - only a few places left! Click here to download the application form.
To support us on the day, or to sponsor our runners (including the Jamie's Farm staff) email Jane Brinson at jane@jamiesfarm.org.uk.
Bring a group
If you are interested in bringing a group to Jamie’s Farm in 2010 now’s the time to book – weeks are filling up quickly! For more information, availability and pricing email Jane Brinson at jane@jamiesfarm.org.uk
Many thanks,
The Jamie's Farm team
