Member Article

YMCA Together's Urban Farm Project Attracts Region's Corporates With Surge In Away Days

An urban farming project located in the suburbs of South Liverpool is attracting a number of the region’s corporates as they plan to reconnect with their employees post pandemic.

Dutch Farm, which is ran by one of Liverpool’s longest-standing charity organisations YMCA Together, offers space for tranquillity, reflection, and imagination. Since its inception three years ago, it has promoted emotional health and wellbeing - not just for its service users, but for the wider community.

The team behind it are now seeing a surge in enquiries for the year ahead as businesses look to plan corporate away days at the site as part of their overall 2022 strategies.

Project Lead for Dutch Farm Liz Sabatini said: “Dutch Farm provides a therapeutic environment that engages our service users in meaningful activity allowing for the expansion of skills, the production of organic vegetables and the development of creative outlets. Now, it’s being recognised as a place of inspiration by the likes of Everton in the Community, Housing First and Options for Supported Living who want to bring their teams here to enjoy what we have on offer.

“We’ve got a space that is so full of opportunity, and we love that there is a want and a need for it from a wider demographic. The team and I hope that by working with businesses of all sizes we can do our part to spread the message that health and wellbeing are directly linked to productivity and motivation. Companies are learning more each day of their responsibility to staff wellbeing, and we’re excited to be helping them create healthier environments and happier teams.”

Noticeable visits include pharmaceutical company Elanco, who experienced the site by gardening, constructing glasshouses and animal enclosures for the farm’s residents, and planting trees. As well as being a core business supporter since the project’s conception, donating to us as a charity, they have worked hard to achieve something with real community value and help the farm flourish, giving them a sense of accomplishment as a team.

YMCA Together’s Dutch Farm mission was to engage homeless people in practical and sustainable food related projects that inspire health and wellbeing and celebrate the diverse nature of communities in Merseyside.

Liz added: “Three years on and with a lot of hard work and commitment from our small team and residents, we have a thriving urban farm that has stayed true to its mission.”

Last year, The City of Liverpool Young Men’s Christian Association (YMCA Together) celebrated its 175th birthday and was awarded the prestigious Freedom of the City. It was first established as a place of hope, light and unquestioning support to people in communities who needed help and they are still working to make sure that everyone has a home of their own, support from people who understand them and skills for a better future.

YMCA Together currently provides 109,500 bed spaces annually and was named the sixth best charity to work for in the UK by Best Companies.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Maria Cochrane .