A visit to Vana Farm!

Vana Farm is a beautiful, small, mixed farm on the Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire border. 

They provide activities, work experience and support for people with learning disabilities, autism and mental health issues from the age of 14 years old.

Alongside raising chickens, ducks, sheep, goats and pigs, they have a large kitchen garden for growing organic fruit, vegetables and herbs and a kitchen for cooking classes and craft clubs. 

The small friendly team at the farm gently nurture, encourage and teach trainees valuable life skills. It is a place where our young people gain a work ethic, purpose, sense of belonging and feelings of accomplishment.

The invaluable experience is essential for our young adults at The Chiltern Centre who, each week, can learn practical life skills which will help them in gaining job opportunities going forward, and also the transition into supported living.

These visits also provide many physical benefits including: physical fitness and stamina, practical farming and gardening skills, developing fine motor skills, manual dexterity and coordination.

The emotional benefits such as reducing feelings of depression, anger, anxiety and isolation, working together as a team, developing communication and interpersonal skills and feeling joy, freedom in the countryside and love for the animals – are beyond comparison

Check out the smiles from our recent visit here!