200,000 more children were pushed into poverty the year before the pandemic – twice the increase in the previous year (Child Poverty Action Group, 2021). That means over a third of the children in Britain (4.3m) are growing up in poverty. Child poverty is about more than income, for many children poverty can mean uncertainty, stress, hunger, loneliness, boredom, poor health and a lack of opportunities and sadly the educational outcomes for these disadvantaged children is often poor. This is evidenced by the attainment gap between persistently disadvantaged pupils who end primary school over a year behind their non-disadvantaged peers and are over two years behind by the end of secondary school (Education Policy Institute).

The above statistics shows how the impact of poverty on early childhood education negatively impacts children’s life chances. For these children, the opportunity to have positive engagements with the natural world and all its life-enhancing benefits is also more limited. This is why Farms for City Children works with as many disadvantaged and inner-city schools and children as possible. During their stay on the farm every child acquires new skills, experiences, and a sense of achievement to take back home and to school, with parents, carers and teachers seeing positive and lasting impact on their behaviour, learning and self-esteem.

Farms for City Children provides a completely different life experience and is brilliantly placed to provide a spectacular natural environment to heal and recover and to empower disadvantaged children to see a bigger, brighter future. The benefits of a visit are often immense and extend long beyond the children’s time at the farms.