Heeley City Farm

Commonscat

Heeley City Farm is a city farm, one of many in the UK. It is a community-based and led training, employment and youth enterprise located in Heeley, Sheffield.

Heeley City Farm was founded in 1981 on land where the Sheffield South Relief road < aka the heeley bypass, a scheme which blighted the lives of hundreds of local residents for 30 years > was to be built. Construction never started and the land was put to new use.

Heeley City Farm is based around a wind and sun powered mini farm and a number of environmental social enterprises and attractions. The focus of its work is in Heeley but increasingly it operates throughout Sheffield and into the South Yorkshire region, including work at Wortley walled garden, Dore and Meersbrook.Now 25 years old and winner of many national and international awards, Heeley City Farm provides environmental, health, food and farming education to around 5,000 school children and many tens of thousands of adult visitors each year. The [http://www.syec.co.uk South Yorkshire Energy Centre] (SYEC), which opened in August 2006, demonstrates renewable energy and sustainable building materials and techniques, and provides advice and courses for building professionals, individual householders and school parties.

Heeley City Farm maintains a much needed green space in inner city Sheffield (open 365 days a year) with recycling and healthy living facilities (including a highly acclaimed community café) and a Garden Centre and charity shop. Day care and training for up to 20 adults with learning difficulties is provided along with vocational training in horticulture for up to 100 unemployed adults, youth activities for up to 2,000 young people (including young people not attending school) and support for over 100 regular volunteers.

Heeley City Farm describes itself as a community or social enterprise: it is committed to supporting those most in need in its community using enterprising methods. It runs training programmes (including language and Basic Skills support) and creates jobs (by developing mini enterprises). Emphasis is placed on long term unemployed adults, people with learning disabilities and those suffering disadvantage or discrimination in achieving skills and employment and young people.

Income comes mostly from social enterprise activity including public sector service contracts, enterprise sales and consultancy services. In 2005, less than 25% of income was described as funding but this included charitable funding and grants for specific projects or activities.

External links

* [http://www.heeleyfarm.org.uk Official Site]
* [http://www.syec.co.uk South Yorkshire Energy Centre]