During the coronavirus quarantine we have installed a fully accessible compost toilet next to the allotment and have been building ramps and making new pathways to make the farm more accessible to wheelchair users and those with limited mobility. We have taken advice from occupational therapists based at St. John's University and will continue to make adjustments to make the animal enclosures accessible too.

All this work costs money and your financial contribution can help us ensure our services and the therapeutic advantages of nature-based activities are available to more people.

As a member of the farm team, people are supported to reach their potential using the living resources of the farm, enabling them to improve independence, health and fitness and gain confidence. Alongside the skills learned through our activities, social skills and friendship are also gained as is the ability to make meaningful contributions to the planning and decision making processes – these are all aspects of involvement in the Living Potential project.

We offer work experience and qualifications as well as many experiences of outdoor learning on our segment of this beautiful 500 acre farm. We provide animal care, horticulture, fishing, woodland walks and workshops which have included willow weaving, music and movement and tree planting. We are set up perfectly for the cooler or hotter weather, having large indoor spaces and a roaring fire in the winter. We have dedicated kitchens and art room/woodworking spaces which mean we can cook and create with the produce we collect.

As well as having a commitment to help people reach their potential, we also have a commitment to the planet that we are part of. We work, as far as possible, in harmony with the land we occupy in order to increase biodiversity, reduce our plastic waste, reduce our chemical waste and to buy products that are not tested on animals. We hope to offer outreach services to local schools regarding sustainable ‘Farm to Fork’ initiatives in affiliation with LEAF (Linking Environment and Farming) - teaching the benefits of agroecology in the fight against climate change and about the individual contributions we can all make through our consumer choices.

We celebrate our achievements at our annual Awards Ceremony, we organise a Summer Fair and autumn Apple Day and we have proudly hosted the Mayors of Harrogate and Wetherby at these occasions. The Mayor of Harrogate said “adults with learning difficulties should be given every opportunity that we can give them in life and you clearly do just that.” Living Potential were invited to attend Her Majesty’s Garden Party on the Mayor’s recommendation.