Bethphage Charity have taken the keys to a farm in Chelmarsh and it wont be long before there up and running.
Bethphage (Charity) gave us a look around there new farm, and they will soon be moving the animals in too. They help people with learning difficulties and other life challenges.
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00:00Here in Chelmarsh, just outside Bridge North, at Blossom Barns, exciting new project for Bethesda charity.
00:08So Kerry, you represent them. What's your role and what's so special about this place? It's a new acquisition isn't it?
00:14It is. So yeah, Blossom Barns is a really exciting new project by Bethesda.
00:19It's going to be a day opportunities for adults with learning disabilities based in a farm setting.
00:25So we're going to do animal husbandry, horticulture, craft, woodwork, cooking and much more.
00:31We're really excited about it. So my role here is a service manager.
00:36So at the moment we're in the process of developing the site, getting it all ready to open up and deliver a service.
00:44And so what sort of people is it you'll be helping then? What sort of service users do we call them?
00:50So the people we support, we like to call the workers. That was something that they chose as their term.
00:57So we support around 30 to 36 individuals at the moment and we want to support them going forward.
01:04So people have a range of different learning disabilities and autism, a whole variety of different support needs.
01:12But we just support them to live as independently as they can and take part in as many sort of fulfilled and enriched jobs as possible.
01:22And that farm setting, it just performs that kind of relaxed setting that just helps them develop life skills, isn't it really?
01:29Yeah, it's life skills. So you've got a whole range of different things that we do here.
01:36The idea is that we'll support people with practical skills. Perhaps some people might want to take that on into employment opportunities.
01:42A lot of life skills. So we've supported people before going on into independent living or supported living.
01:50So we'll teach things like ironing, cooking, washing, those sorts of everyday skills.
01:58And then most importantly, I think for me and the people we support, are those social interactions, making friendships, developing trusting relationships, professional relationships.
02:10And having a really consistent approach in a really person-centred way for people to make sure that they live as fulfilled a life as possible.
02:19So it's a tried and tested formula for the charity. You've got Oak Farms and you know how it works.
02:27How long before we get our first animals arriving here at Blossom Barns then?
02:31Well, we're hoping that everybody will have moved home by the end of November this year.
02:36So, yeah, very exciting. Lots of jobs to do, lots of things for people to take part in.
02:43And it'll be alpacas, goats, chickens, guinea pigs and tortoise at the moment.
02:50Great stuff. And if people want to find out a little bit more about the exciting times down here, where do they look for any latest news?
02:56Yeah, so there's a whole bit about Blossom Barns on the Bethergy website and then we also will be doing a Facebook group as well.
03:05We currently have one for Oak Farm and so we'll probably use that for updating everybody on what we're doing.
03:11Great stuff. Well, we look forward to visiting you again when it's a bit noisier with chickens running around and different animals and stuff.
03:17Yeah, it'll be a hive of activity I'm sure. You're very welcome.