At just 20 years old, Andy suffered a life-altering brain injury following a car accident that left him unable to speak or filter information properly as well as a permanently weakened left side.
As part of his rehabilitation, Andy discovered a love of working with animals leading him to discover a charity offering farming therapy, volunteer opportunities and a deep sense of belonging – Oasis City Farm Southampton.
Fast forward a decade and Andy continues to be a long time, weekly volunteer at the farm. From building bird houses to mucking out the animals, he’s involved with almost everything all whilst relearning fundamental life skills and rebuilding core strength on his left side.
Andy says, “[the farm] has made my life better by enabling me to make friends and learn skills which I use most days. This includes woodwork, cooking, and physical jobs with the animals. I wouldn’t change the farm for anything. I love it here, and it’s just like a second home.”
Therapy, community and connection
Oasis took over the running of Southampton city farm in 2008 building on a 30-year legacy. City farms, of which there are over 100 in the UK, present unique opportunities to build community particularly in underserved neighbourhoods where access to green spaces and physical exercise is often lacking.
Our farm is situated in one of the 10% most deprived areas of the country. We know many residents experience social isolation and poor physical and mental health. Our farm, through the power of local people, is tackling this head on. Every year, we help 12,000 people through our range of community, education and youth work activities.
We run everything from holiday clubs, youth volunteering, and toddler groups to SEND visits, AQA courses, animal experiences and a café. All of this exists to care for the particular needs of our local community so that there is no one left out. In fact, 94% of visitors say the farm is a safe space to fully express themselves.
A new opportunity
Recently, we were given the opportunity write a new chapter in the farm’s story. Thanks to funding from the Benefact Trust, we’ve been able to start a new community gardening role helping us to support the set-up of seven new community gardens across Southampton — collaborating with local people to share the therapeutic power of gardening and build community together.
Our first community garden will be at Oasis Academy Lord’s Hill Pre-School, offering a safe green space for our children to learn, grow and reach their God-given potential. The farm’s day service has been at the centre of helping to construct the garden space ready for the pre-schoolers and their families to begin learning about gardening.
Lizzie Whitbread, Strategic Community Development Lead at Oasis Southampton, says: “This project has got off to a great start. Our Garden Farm Assistant is opening up opportunities for those who come to the farm to engage more in our garden, learn new skills and experience the therapeutic power gardening has to offer.
Working with the farm’s day service, they have transformed the space at Oasis Academy Lordshill Preschool and the children here now have a beautiful and interactive space to be and learn about growing food. At Oasis Academy Lordshill the eco group are being supported to design a garden in the academy grounds. Our Garden Farm Assistant is helping their ideas and vision come to life. Over the next few years of the project we will work with other community groups to draw people together through gardening, creating further inclusive, welcoming green spaces in the heart of our city.”
An exciting journey
Oasis has been running city farms for almost two decades but, despite their demonstrable impact, they have not always been easy to maintain. As Patrick Barkham writes in The Guardian, “City farms have always led a Cinderella existence, cash-strapped and constantly imperilled by developers or council cuts.”
Our farms only exist because of the generosity of our supporters. Thank you for standing with us as we provide therapeutic farming so that everyone — regardless of their context or life-circumstances — can thrive.
