We are completely amazed and humbled by the speed at which you, the public have helped us reach our initial target! Thank you all so very much for your generous donations.
The more money we are able to raise, the longer we can stay open whilst we work to secure the financial future of the farm. Please do keep donating and sharing our appeal if at all possible.
Sadly, 2024 has been a catastrophic year for Deen City Farm. A major power system failure combined with massively increased costs means we are now struggling to keep afloat and, without your help, we will have to close.
At the beginning of the year, we asked for donations to help us fund the electrical repairs onsite and your amazing donations helped us raise £30,000. However, it has not been enough to cover the rising costs of this problem, and we are once again needing to ask for your help.
Staff and volunteers have worked relentlessly to keep the farm open and maximise our income, but the electrical fault stopped us from running at full capacity for almost 8 months and we incurred substantial extra costs to simply stay open.
Closing is the last resort and we will do whatever it takes to keep our farm gates open for you, but it is now a real possibility.
Closing will mean the local community will lose a vital community asset and the important work we do supporting children and disadvantaged people will come to an end.
Without your help we cannot continue to:
* Welcome over 130,000 visitors annually, mainly families where they can meet and feed the animals, engaging in therapeutic, fun and educational experiences, use the playground or enjoy the garden, free of charge.
* Offer work experience for over 244 students a year, 64% of which have identified as disabled.
* Support volunteer opportunities for over 190 people a year, of those 43% in 2023/24 were unemployed, and 56% identified as individuals with additional needs.
* Host students who have lost their desire or ability to thrive in mainstream education.
* Run mental and physical health and well-being programmes within the local community
* Offer workshops and guided experiences for school children: 1,475 children from 43 different schools benefited in 2023.
Please donate today and share this message to ensure we can remain open for the community.
We are talking openly about our financial position to the people who matter to us the most; the people that use us, value us, support us. We do not want to see another inner-city, free to access community, family and educational space, have to close.
Sadly, we know our situation is not unique. Many charities in the current, challenging, external environment are struggling, but we hope you can really dig deep, see the value Deen City Farm brings to South London, and donate today.
With your support, we can remain open, whilst we review how the Farm can move forwards in a sustainable way. We will do this transparently and in consultation with our community, stakeholders and supporters.
Please donate today and share this message to ensure we can remain open for the community.
THANK YOU!
* Charities pay a small fee for our service. Find out how much it is and what we do for it.
