Cross border initiative for NW

Added: 14-09-2012

A new cross border project that uses farming to help rehabilitate vulnerable people is set to benefit people from across the North West.

Over the next two years, the Social Farming Across Borders project will establish 20 demonstration social farms, as well as a cross-Border network of farmers, healthcare professionals and people who use services.

The project has been developed by University College Dublin, Queen’s University Belfast, Leitrim Development Company, and the College of agriculture, Food and Rural Enterprise in Northern Ireland. It has been awarded funding of almost €700,000 from the European Union’s Interreg IVA Programme.

The farms will be used to help the wellbeing of people who use social care services. They may have experienced addiction or mental health problems or are coping with physical or learning disabilities.

Fergus O’Dowd, Minister of State at the Department of Natural Resources is encouraging farmers to consider getting involved in the initiative.