agriculture can play in delivering social care

THE ROLE UK AGRICULTURE CAN PLAY IN DELIVERING SOCIAL CARE

ROBIN ASQUITH 2016 NUFFIELD SCHOLAR

Robin Asquith (center) with Social Farmers in Italy

Before my Nuffield Scholarship I was in a management position in a small charity. My role involved running the hill farm which had highland cattle, pigs and poultry. The farm has a twist though, we supported up to twelve individuals with learning and mental disabilities on the farm and they worked alongside us. By giving people an opportunity to work on the farm, something many of them had never had before, is hugely rewarding; not only for myself, but for them too. It gives purpose, direction and structure to people’s lives. I applied for a Nuffield Scholarship as I hadn’t travelled far, but also because I wanted to learn how other people did what we did. I had only recently heard the term ‘Social Farming’ and it was a lot more common overseas than in the UK. It got me wondering why this was, and how we could improve things in the UK?

Nuffield gave me the confidence to grow and expand my horizons and my knowledge base. But it was initial personal misfortune which really steered the course of my Nuffield journey. On the first day of the Pre-CSC Briefing induction to Nuffield, sat in the imposing Savills Board Room in central London and being told we were the future of agriculture, I sat with a growing and increasingly overwhelming sense of obligation and pressure. A sense which later that day led me to an NHS Accident & Emergency Department. So, I missed the Contemporary Scholars’ Conference in Ireland. I appeared written off. But, through sheer determination not to quit, I continued and completed my travels. It is now, as I sit reflecting on the experience, that I realise it was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. The travel gave me confidence, I learnt to cope with being in uncomfortable positions. I lost my fear of flying, and I became comfortable far away from my normal routine.

That’s what Nuffield gave to me - the confidence that I could do anything if I put my mind to it. I was no longer the shy lad from Yorkshire who did the

‘hippy’ farming. I was a strong minded and capable young chap who could set about and achieve anything he wanted.

Without this new confidence I probably wouldn’t be sat here writing this – nor would I have subsequently travelled to

Kenya to do voluntary work in remote farming communities.

Through the Nuffield journey I changed jobs, from one in a very small rural charity to a role in a large national charity leading a strategy change over several geographically spread sites. I’m pleased to say the charity now has five active and flourishing social farms and gardens, providing structured and person-centred learning opportunities to adults living with disabilities. I now lead our estates team which couples my love of agriculture with my interest in buildings and their environment. I have used my experience to help expand the sector nationally. I was a trustee of Care Farming UK and helped steer the charity through a merger to form a new organisation, Social Farms & Gardens. The charity was able to grow and, thereby, expand the social farm sector through successful funding; we did have 200 social farms in the UK, this now stands closer to 300. Outside of Nuffield my life is as busy as ever. My wife and I have developed our own business, expanding our traditional farm fresh turkey enterprise into a more Christmas focused enterprise, expanding our range and improving our customer experience. I am the proud father of two and just embarking on one of my biggest challenges – building the family home! Nuffield gave me the confidence to take a few risks, buying some land without planning permission and selling the family home to do so was one of those! Eighteen months later we are to embark on building an ‘eco home’. Once built this will enable me to follow my lifelong dream of starting our own small scale soft fruit enterprise.

HAVE YOU CONSIDERED JOINING THE INSTITUTE OF AGRICULTURAL MANAGEMENT?

It has never been more important for those involved in farm management and food production to be able to demonstrate high standards of competence, integrity and ethics.

How do you do this in an industry that is so diverse and disparate? By joining an organisation which is committed to: • Promoting high standards in the practice and management in agriculture • Promoting training and CPD in all aspects of agricultural business management and creating a demonstrable career progression • Encouraging the provision and attainment of professional qualifi cations • Championing the achievements in high standards of agricultural practice • Providing unique opportunities to network and share best practice. That organisation is the Institute of Agricultural Management run by, and for, those committed to a vibrant, sustainable and socially-aware farming industry.

ABOUT THE INSTITUTE OF AGRICULTURAL MANAGEMENT

WHO CAN JOIN?

Membership is open to those involved in farm, land and rural environment management including farmers, farm managers, consultants, advisors, lecturers, researchers and students.

• The opportunity to progress through a structured career programme • Access to specially designed training programmes including the Leadership Development Programme and the Farm Management Skills Programme as well as an industry recognised Continuous Development

Programme • National events including a National Farm Walk and the prestigious National Farm Management

Conference as well as our annual Question Time evening • Regional branches organise a programme of meetings and events providing an excellent forum for networking and the exchange of ideas • The opportunity to develop your skills and expertise to help develop your career • A structured career progression • The chance to meet regularly with likeminded people in the industry and build a diverse and varied network • Involvement in a range of events • Access to the International Journal of

Agricultural Management

ACTIVITIES BENEFITS OF MEMBERSHIP

01275 843825 enquiries@iagrm.com www.iagrm.com

THE INSTITUTE OF AGRICULTURAL MANAGEMENT The Farm Office | Redend Farm | Station Road | Pilning | Bristol | BS35 4JW