It was fantastic to visit the family-run Wellies Farm and Garden CIC, in Newport. It really does have the “Wow!” Factor.
Wellies Farm and Garden exists to provide a safe environment where people with learning difficulties and mental health problems can enjoy the countryside and experience working with animals, as well as growing vegetables. There have been many children and young people with behavioural problems and mental health hospital patients visiting and reporting huge benefits.
The farm is immediately impressive, with a huge variety of animals and even a welcoming committee of ducks and geese as you drive in!
Eddie and family have done an incredible job making Wellies a playful, interactive, safe and friendly environment for all to enjoy. Having met some post-16 young men that enjoy all they have to offer, you can see the benefits that this environment and these experiences give them.
They offer a sense of belonging for all visitors, whilst improving their mental health and well-being through creating a nurturing and therapeutic environment for learning, for post-16 year olds with learning difficulties, foster children and more! It really is a calm and happy environment, a lovely place to be.
Wellies aim to support people to increase their confidence, and self-worth, along with developing personal and social skills, and clearly do that in spades! Preparing young adults for the outside world, giving them new skills and increasing confidence to lead a more independent life. It was heartwarming to hear of some of the positive stories from those that have spent time on the farm.
Wellies work with a variety of Charities, Councils, Special Schools and community-based health and well-being projects.
Many young people are benefiting from Wellies and it is most definitely something that we need to copy and rollout across Wales. The positive outcomes of what they are doing there - from time with animals to learning to drive dumper trucks, is palpable.
We need to celebrate and use Welsh ‘outside schools’ like this. As they say “Not all classrooms have four walls”. It was frustrating to learn that local councils were using facilities in England, and transporting young people, rather than utilising what’s on their doorstep, in Wales. Wellies is packed out all week, with the need to actively encourage more education facilities like this.
The learners have worked so hard painting, making and putting up the stand, and even growing the flowers for their stand and I am sure it’s going to be outstanding!