A Suffolk care farm scheme which helps adults with learning disabilities, acquired brain injuries or other mental health problems is celebrating after being shortlisted for a National Lottery windfall.
Minds to Mend at Depden Care Farm, near Bury St Edmunds, could be in line for a grant of up to £50,000 from The People’s Projects - if members of the public back the project.
Around £3m of National Lottery funding is up for grabs, with 95 organisations shortlisted across the UK.
Tim Freathy, Minds to Mend project manager said: “There is a very real possibility that we could be allocated up to £50,000, but we need your help. Members of the public vote for the projects they want to support, and the ones with most votes will receive funding.”
Depden Care Farm supports the adults to gain new skills and work experience in agriculture and horticulture.
The additional funding would enable them to support many more people through a new weekly programme for those recovering their mental health, helping them get their life back on track and become more work-ready.
Funding could also help build a new fully accessible workshop to offer a broader range of skills to everyone, whatever their physical ability.
“I don’t need to tell you that winning this amount of money will make a massive difference to our little charity and to the many people we would be able to help as a result. Please vote for us,” said Tim.
The farm, which works with pigs, sheep, pygmy goats, donkeys, geese, ducks and chickens, also grows crops in its fields, raised beds and in polytunnel. Produce is sold every Friday to raise funds.
Voting opens on Monday, April 16 and closes on Monday 30 April 30. To cast your vote online go to https://www.thepeoplesprojects.org.uk/projects/region/anglia-east or send a postcard to Freepost THE PEOPLE’S PROJECTS. Postal votes must be received by midday on Monday, April 30
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