Bridge Community Farm

Nigel and Lizzie Bruce receive a cheque for Bridge Community Farm from Tim Kenney (Director, Kenney Moore Property Consultancy Ltd)

Bridge Community Farms is a social enterprise based in Ellesmere Port, Cheshire. We are a working farm that brings together people from all parts of the local community and offers those in need a helping hand.

The first seed for Bridge Community Farms was planted in 2011. David Briggs, Lord-Lieutenant of Cheshire, brought a small group of business people together, challenging them to find ways to create sustainable jobs for people who are long-term unemployed in certain areas of the county.

Bridge Community Farms was set up in response to this challenge.

We are a socially responsible and environmentally conscious organisation.  Our main purpose is to offer permanent and sustainable jobs to people who are long-term unemployed, by growing and selling fruit, vegetables, salads and herbs to the local community.

We also provide a therapeutic environment for people living with mental health conditions such as depression and post-traumatic stress disorder, as well as people with physical and learning disabilities. We also have study facilities for children and young people who want to learn horticulture, food preparation and basic business skills.

Our board and senior management team are made up of individuals with extensive experience and a track record in farming, commerce, horticulture, law, finance, education and retail.

Bridge Community Farms is a member of the following networks and organisations:

Care Farming UK is an organisation interested in the therapeutic use of farming practices. They support farms providing health, social or educational care services for vulnerable people, or structured programmes of farming activities. They represent care farmers in policy development to support care farming in the UK.

Land Workers Alliance is a network of producer- led organisations using sustainable methods to produce food, fuel, fibre and flowers. The Alliance also campaigns for the rights of small-scale producers on policies that impact the sector.

Thrive is a UK charity using gardening to change the lives of disabled people. They have regular publications keeping the sector up to date on social and therapeutic horticulture, health, care, the environment and education.

For more information visit: http://www.bridgecommunityfarms.co.uk/