This week we finished our 6 week pilot programme with the fantastic Mission EmployAble interns. It was all hands on deck to respond to the toll the recent winds took on the farm.The team helped us to pack away the battered marquee, recover the mud covered baubles, and reposition the toppled Christmas Tree ready for Sunday’s Spirit of Christmas.
We then took time to sit round a table, hot chocolate in hand, and look back over the past 6 weeks under the guidance of Farm Ranger Steve.
Dan, Oscar, Danny, Eddie, Peter, Paul and Jake had all mastered how to use the right tool safely for the right job. They’d excelled on communication skills and working as a team, getting to know each other along the way and building their strength, knowledge and resilience week on week.
Paul said his favourite part was mulching the hedges and wheelbarrowing the woodchip into position, whilst Peter said he always woke up on a Tuesday feeling happy knowing he was coming to Woodoaks. Well that certainly worked both ways!
We’ll miss our weekly visits with this crew, but plans are afoot to return in 2025 and that’s something we are already looking forward to.
This pilot has been made possible with The National Lottery Heritage Fund. Thanks to National Lottery players, we have been able to work together with Mission EmployAble to develop this programme that will contribute towards helping these young adults with learning disabilities gain meaningful employment.
You can find out more about Mission EmployAble and the Chorleywood Café on The Common here