What We Do About Kerry Social Farming
Established in 2013 and operating social farms since 2014, Kerry Social Farming (KSF) was founded on principles of equality, social inclusion, voluntary community development and collaboration. It is currently one of two projects operating the voluntary model of social farming in Ireland, in that farmers are not paid for their time with participants. It is a locally-led, community-based, shared service that provides farming and social inclusion opportunities to people with physical and intellectual disabilities, acquired brain injuries and those engaging with mental health services, all within their local communities. Support for social farming in Ireland, including Kerry Social Farming, comes primarily from the Department of Agriculture, Food & Marine (DAFM) through its Commission for Economic Development of Rural Areas (CEDRA) Rural Innovation and Development Fund. As well as its fit with CEDRA, KSF is also aligned with Kerry’s Local Economic & Community Plan and receives support through the Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme (SICAP). HSE’s New Directions provides the framework for the governance, planning and implementation of KSF based on person-centredness, community inclusion, active citizenship and quality. This funding was extended for 2023-2024.
Growth & Development of Kerry Social Farming 2013-2023
Kerry Social Farming commenced in 2013 under the auspices of lead partner South Kerry Development Partnership CLG. The research findings from the Iveragh Uplands and Rural Vibrancy in South Kerry Report more widely point to the broader value of farming to society and the economy, as well as the strength of rural vibrancy demonstrated by rising volunteerism through a time of austerity.
It is within this context that in 2013, a working group was formed, with members from families of people with a disability, farmers, service providers, community development organisations and local government to create the Kerry Social Farming. KSF Working Group held its first meeting on 29th May 2013. Prior to that meeting, six months of planning and development work took place, including attending conferences in Carrick-on-Shannon, Belfast and Armagh, as part of the Social Farming Across Borders (SoFAB) project.
Since 2013, Kerry Social farming has helped build closer links between the farming community and people with disabilities and has grown steadily and sustainably from year to year, delivering 76 days of social farming within the first six months (July-December 2013). This rose to over 900 days during the first half of 2023.
Kerry Social Farming has expanded from four farms in 2013 to over 40 in 2023, with a number of new farms engaging with a view to becoming host farms. To date, Kerry farm gates have opened to over 100 people with disabilities, allowing them avail of farming activities and enjoy the experience of being with animals and plants in a safe and friendly environment. These working farms continue offering participant opportunities to learn farm skills, life skills, connect with the rural community and build meaningful relationships.
Our Vision
To promote and operate social farming in Kerry as a viable option for achieving improved quality of life, greater inclusion and community networking for people with disabilities.
Our Mission
Through working collectively in a shared service with the social care service providers, people with disabilities, local communities, local development companies, national and local government, the business community, farm organisations & farm families to develop and provide Social Farming opportunities in Kerry.
Governance & Structure
Kerry Social Farming steered by KSF Working Group and is under the legal umbrella of lead partner South Kerry Development Partnership CLG (SKDP), which provides the legal, financial and administrative governance for Kerry Social Farming.
The Kerry Social Farming Model
Voluntary
Kerry Social Farming is about meaningful Social Inclusion. The model of social farming in Kerry is voluntary and community based – both the host farmers and the participants (persons with disabilities who avail of social farming) work together on a voluntary basis on the farm. The benefits of the voluntary model are that it lends itself to promote real social inclusion and foster real friendships and working relationships. In addition, the voluntary model is sustainable, providing long-term opportunities for participants on the farms. This voluntary model harnesses the phenomenon of Rural Vibrancy that is evident right across Kerry and also evident in rural communities nationwide.
Real Farms
The host farms involved in the Kerry Social Farming are ordinary farms. Participants attend the farm typically once a week for a few hours and get involved in farming activities which can be anything from feeding livestock or sheep, growing and delivering vegetables or flowers, attending the local Mart or other community events. Therefore, farming life and activities continue as normal while participants are on the farm. Through the support of the host farmer, participants meet more people in the local rural community, getting to know the neighbours, other farmers and the farming family.
Supports For Farmers
The KSF Working Group and facilitator ensure that no host farmer is out of pocket. Full financial support is given to cover additional insurance costs and implement necessary farm upgrades that may be required to ensure the health and safety of the participants, as well as funding additional activities on the farm which the participant would enjoy and benefit from.
Bottom Up Approach
Kerry Social Farming operates by the principles of bottom-up community development. Using a bottom-up approach, SKDP is ideally placed to bring together various stakeholders in the community to work together as Kerry Social Farming Shared Services.
Kerry Social Farming Partners
Kerry Social Farming operates on a collaborative basis, and since 2013 has grown to incorporate a number of social farming partners. Our partners are as follows:
Kerry Parents & Friends Association (KPFA)
St. John of God Kerry Services (SJOG)
Down Syndrome Ireland, Kerry Branch (DSK)
Cunamh Iveragh
South Kerry Development Partnership CLG (SKDP)
North East & West Kerry Development (NEWKD)
Host Farmers representatives
Social Farm Participants representatives
Health Service Executive (HSE)
Enable Ireland Kerry Adult Services
Kerry County Council (KCC)
Local Link Kerry
Kerry Education and Training Board (KETB)
Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection (DEASP)
Studio 3
National Learning Network
Rehabcare
Inspired
Resilience care
Novas Disability Services
Representatives of the above partners make up the KSF Working Group, which is a working group of lead partner South Kerry Development Partnership CLG (SKDP) and reports regularly to the management and board of the partnership. Apart from the representatives on KSF Working Group, outlined above, KSF also works collaboratively with Local Link Kerry (Rural Transport) Local Link Kerry in developing a social car model, whereby host farmers and other community volunteers transport participants to and from the farm, thus helping the project to grow sustainably. The above model shows how all partners support the social farm participants by working together.
Contact Kerry Social Farming with any queries.
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