28/04/11
Rhubarb Farm - ProHelp Case Study
Rhubarb Farm is an environmental social enterprise using organic horticulture as a vehicle for training and therapeutic benefit. It provides work placements, training and volunteering opportunities for people who are unemployed, ex-offenders, have mental or physical ill health, have learning difficulties or who are well and want to stay well through healthy exercise.
Jennie Street Managing Director, Rhubarb Farm“I cannot say enough how grateful we are to ProHelp for this excellent professional support, as we were so much in our infancy and in need of it! It’s a great programme for the likes of us, struggling out here to deliver services that will eventually make a positive difference to other people’s lives”
The project was offered 2 acres of land by the Langwith Village Society on a peppercorn rent for the next 25 years and 6 acres by a local farmer, and after considerable assistance from ProHelp member firm, AMA Planning (Andrew Martin Associates), managed to get planning permission for a fence, office and storage containers, polytunnels and composting toilets. Following several grant awards from both sides of the border (Bassetlaw in Nottinghamshire and Bolsover district in Derbyshire - because their geographical location straddles both counties), the project is now well underway!
ProHelp also provided support through surveyors, Savills and legal firm Browne Jacobson who have been advising Rhubarb Farm over the negotiation of the lease terms. Savills provided their rural experience and expertise to assist discussions and Browne Jacobson are following through with the necessary legal assistance to ensure the process of accepting terms and signing the lease all goes smoothly.
The project is already engaging people from the ‘Community Payback’ scheme and the local Job Centre is sending people on site who are not quite ‘job ready’, through the Future Jobs Fund, so this is offering them some real hands-on experience. Local residents are being very supportive, even lending tools and equipment when necessary!
Rhubarb Farm, established as a Community Interest Company, will generate an income through the sale of produce grown on the land to local shops and restaurants, plans to promote Green Tourism and offer green corporate team building activity, along with educational projects with schools and a Community Supported Agriculture scheme (like a box scheme), where people have a say in what is grown.
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