Young urban farmers
We’ve been running weekend farming sessions for 12-17 year olds at Stepney City Farm for over 10 years. In our densely urbanised borough of Tower Hamlets, there is a large demand but few opportunities for young people to experience rural life, learn about sustainable food systems, and work hands-on with nature and animals.
That’s why we were delighted when in 2018, the Farm was awarded a three-year grant by the Greater London Authority to develop and expand our range of onsite youth programming.
The ‘Young London Inspired’ fund allowed us to service the demand in our local community for learning and engagement opportunities for young people through supported group volunteering, work experience placements, and drop-in ‘Young Farmers’ sessions.
In 2021, we take a look back to celebrate the achievements of our young volunteers over three years, and to reflect on the future of youth programming on the Farm.
Impact
Starting in 2018, we rolled out a series of sessions each term for groups at risk of exclusion from mainstream education and groups with special educational needs, and ran long and short term work experience placements in partnership with local colleges and educational providers.
Over the following three years, we watched young people grow in confidence with the responsibility afforded to them on the Farm, through the essential role that they were able to play in caring for the site and the animals. We’ve seen social connections growing, and young people becoming more embedded in the local community.
Between 2018 and 2021, we engaged 337 young people with volunteering, work experience, and one-off educational sessions.
Thanks to the GLA funding, we have had the capacity to maintain many long term relationships with groups and individuals, and it has been incredibly rewarding to see young people at the Farm develop their knowledge and passion for food growing, animal care, and the environment, and in some cases even go on to higher education and careers in related fields.
In 2021, we were delighted to receive a donation from the Garfield Weston Foundation to continue to support children and young people in our local community in the wake of Covid19, and are now looking at ways to build on our experience and success to create a sustainable education programme for future years.
We’d like to say a huge thank you to our funders and to all of the young people who have made, and continue to make, such a valuable contribution to the Farm and to the local community.
Our popular Sunday sessions work experience opportunities currently remain over-subscribed, but you can sign up to our Youth and work experience mailing lists to be notified when places become available.