• Kerry Social Farming
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    The Kerry Social Farming Project
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  • Kerry Social Farming
    Kerry Social Farming is a voluntary, locally led, community based initiative
    The Kerry Social Farming Project
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  • Kerry Social Farming
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    The Kerry Social Farming Project
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The Kerry Social Farming Project is under the legal umbrella of lead partner South Kerry Development Partnership CLG.

Kerry Social Farming
Kerry Social Farming
Kerry Social Farming
Kerry Social Farming

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.

Kerry Social Farming
Kerry Social Farming

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Our mission is to offer real and sustainable opportunities for social inclusion, choice/rights and quality of life for people with disabilities in County Kerry by providing the opportunities to engage in the farming community.

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Growth and 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.


Learn more about Kerry Social Farming Social Farming facilitates adults with disabilities engage with the farming community

Kerry Social Farming

Research

An evaluation of Kerry Social Farming (KSF) was commissioned by the KSF working group in 2016 to review the implementation of the Project.

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Kerry Social Farming

Information

We promote Social Farming as a viable option for achieving improved quality of life for people who use health & social services & for farm families.

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Kerry Social Farming

Funding & Other Supports

KSF funding & labour inputs comes from a number of sources. The project is primarily funded from the Department of Agriculture Food & the Marine.

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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:

Lead Partner South Kerry Development Partnership CLG
Host Farmer Representatives
Social Farm Participants Representatives
St John of Gods Kerry Services
Kerry Parents and Friends Association
Enable Ireland
Down Syndrome Ireland, Kerry Branch
Cunamh Iveragh
HSE
Kerry County Council
North East West Kerry Development Partnership
Kerry Education and Training Board (Kerry ETB)
Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection (DEASP)
Studio 3
National Learning Network
Rehabcare
Resilience care
Inspired
Novas Disability Services
Together we are the Kerry Social Farming Working Group who steer the sustainable expansion and development of Kerry Social Farming.

Contact Kerry Social Farming with any queries.

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