Power of outdoors
No matter how small you may find indoor space for learning, it’s the experiences outside that can remain having the biggest impact. JPC Community Farm support people with learning disabilities from across the Tees Valley and North Yorkshire, including those experiencing multiple challenges including physical and sensory disabilities.
Paul from JPC explains the importance to them in maintaining outdoor experiences. “We have limited indoor educational space and find that the outdoors is a powerful environment to provide engaging activities for our target group who face considerable adversity, including increased isolation, stress and anxiety because of the Covid-19 pandemic.”
Having recently moved to new farm-based premises with 23.5-acres of land in North Yorkshire, they were looking for support to purchase appropriate clothing to enable their client group to participate on outdoor educational activities, work experience and apprenticeships throughout the year.
“Next year we plan to support at least 160 people with learning disabilities and hope as many of these as possible can benefit from the new outdoor clothing. Although we work with disabled people of all ages, our provision is focused on young adults and supporting them make a positive transition to adulthood and to live as happily and independently as possible.”
It was great to add a little support knowing that the beneficiaries will be out there using the clothing to learn new skills and have rewarding experiences related to gardening/allotment maintenance, caring for animals and completing engaging outdoor development activities.