Community Programmes
Our role in the community
Stonebridge operates as a shared, open place where people come together through everyday activity. Our community programmes are not time-limited interventions or stand-alone projects. They are extensions of the farm’s daily life, built around participation, routine, and shared responsibility.
We focus on creating the conditions that allow connection to develop naturally: open access, real work, predictable rhythms, and a place people can return to.
What we Mean by Community Programmes
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Community programmes at Stonebridge bring people into the life of the farm in ways that are structured, purposeful, and accessible. They sit alongside volunteering and training but are designed for groups and individuals who benefit from a collective, supported environment.
Programmes are shaped by the needs of the community and the capacity of the farm. They evolve over time, rather than being delivered as fixed packages.
Who Our Programmes Support
Our community programmes are used by:
- Local residents seeking connection and routine
- Families and carers spending time together in an open setting
- Community groups needing a safe, welcoming place to meet
- Organisations supporting people facing isolation, disability, or poor mental health
- Schools, colleges, and informal learning groups engaging with nature and food
We prioritise access for those who are often excluded from formal or paid provision.
How programmes work in practice
Community activity at Stonebridge is grounded in the everyday work of the farm. This may include:
- Group involvement in animal care and feeding routines
- Shared growing and gardening activity
- Practical sessions linked to food, land, and seasonal change
- Informal learning through observation, conversation, and repetition
- Supported use of the site as a meeting and gathering space
The farm environment provides structure and boundaries, allowing people to participate safely without the pressure of performance or assessment.
What these programmes achieve
The impact of our community programmes is relational and cumulative.
Participants' experience:
- Increased confidence through regular attendance
- Reduced isolation through shared activity
- Stronger connections across age, background, and circumstance
- A sense of contribution and belonging
For the wider community, the farm remains a visible, trusted place where people are welcome without needing a referral or diagnosis.
Working with partners
We work with local organisations, schools, and community groups to co-design activity that fits the farm and the people using it. Partnerships are built on clarity of purpose, shared responsibility, and realistic expectations.
We are careful not to over-programme. Protecting the farm as an open, working environment is essential to the success of all community activity.
Safeguarding and inclusion
All community programmes operate within Stonebridge’s safeguarding and health and safety frameworks. Staff provide oversight, guidance, and intervention where needed, balancing access with responsibility.
Inclusion is supported through clear expectations, flexible participation, and consistent routines. This allows people to take part meaningfully without compromising safety or animal welfare.
Many communities have lost informal, shared spaces where people can come together without pressure to consume or perform. Stonebridge provides an alternative: a working environment where connection grows through doing, not through programmes alone.
Keeping this space open and active requires care, coordination, and sustained support.