Outcomes

In the 12-month period from September 2023 to September 2024, we delivered 9,728 hours of mental health support to young people from Suffolk who were unable to access full-time education or employment because of their mental health. We currently have 60 beneficiaries on our programme.

Our programme has had a transformative impact on the lives of the young people we support, with:

• 75% of participants reporting reduced anxiety
• 80% engaging consistently in group activities
• 60% of participants able to complete farm-related tasks independently
• 50% of participants pursuing education or employment post-programme

We have systems in place to regularly monitor improvements to the mental health of the young people in our care, including surveys, staff observation logs, journaling, activity tracking sheets and follow-up interviews. This is essential not only to monitor our impact, but also to monitor the well-being of our participants so we can quickly respond and provide help to those in need.

We have also recently established a partnership with the University of East Anglia, who will be supporting a PhD student to monitor and evaluate our mental health programme, with a focus on analyzing how community and peer support can complement traditional therapeutic approaches. The key research aims of this innovative project are as follows:

1. To explore how peer interactions at The Nest Farms contribute to a sense of belonging and community among young people.
2. To identify specific aspects of the farm environment, such as shared tasks and animal care, that facilitate the development of supportive peer relationships.
3. To understand the broader impact of a nurturing community on mental health outcomes such as self-esteem, social confidence and resilience.