What We Do · Family Life

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Jamie’s Farm has grown out of farming as a family pursuit.  Young people are invited to share in our nurturing community which provides a safe environment built upon mutual trust and respect. Young people learn to socialise, co-operate and enjoy communal living. In this atmosphere, a positive family culture is modelled, where the young people can learn to recognise and respect the important roles of family members.

Socialising

Jamie’s Farm offers a high staff to student ratio which means that young people have the opportunity for extended dialogue with adults whilst they are working. By providing a positive atmosphere consistently focused on individual achievements, we are able to help young people view both themselves and others around them in a more positive light.

 

There is also a heavy emphasis placed on building relationships with peers. The students live in close proximity to each other for an extended period of time. Although some students may find this a difficult experience, the farm offers quiet, reflective times during which students benefit from working with an experienced psychotherapist. In this way, they begin to discover strategies which can help them in the future.

Experience of Country Life

Daily walk

Each working day on the farm is concluded with a challenging long walk. This provides the opportunity for whole group interaction and for catching up on the day’s events. Critically, this extended walk provides young people with exercise and a sense of adventure as they discover the countryside. Often this routine can be extremely rewarding for students, since they frequently exceed their expectations of themselves.

Cooking

Cooking and meal preparation

Food preparation and meal times at the farm help build a great sense of community and offer many young people the chance to excel. Much of our food is home grown or locally sourced. The adults and young people always eat together around the same table, and everyone helps to clean up afterwards!