SHIFT works with a variety of clients with the intention of working towards Growing People's Futures.
In our work with Police and Probation Services, clients are given responsibility and a sense of self-worth through participation in farm activities. Often, these clients have experienced a life of crime and, through the SHIFT project, they are encouraged to find a new direction in their lives that is free from crime.
Through our work with schools and authorities, we offer pupils an exciting and practical learning environment that enables them to enhance their personal and education skills.
We also accept children in care who are keen to work on the farm and who cannot remain in full time education.
 

Secondary Schools and Referral Units

We work in conjunction with local secondary schools and referral units offering pupils the opportunity to learn outside the restrictions of the classroom environment. Pupils of all ages, abilities and interests attend the farm as part of their education. We provide schools with an opportunity to improve the behaviour of some of their most disruptive pupils; to extend the variety of the school's curriculum; and to use nature as a healing process for vulnerable or emotionally challenged pupils. The approach that we take with each school is thus specific to that individual school and its pupils; we are happy to meet any requests.
 
Through a unique partnership with local schools, pupils are able to undertake qualifications whilst at the farm: BTEC in Agriculture. We are keen to extend this to other qualifications in the near future.
 

West Mercia Police and Probation

We started a project in 2007 to help persistent prolific offenders to come out of crime and to prevent other vulnerable young people from becoming involved in crime. In this project we offer a means to keep persistent prolific offenders out of the temptation to commit crime by giving them a purpose and a sense of self fulfilment as well as lifting their self esteem. So far, the project has been a huge success and our clients are a credit to the scheme. We feel privileged to have the opportunity to help these people to improve their quality of life.

We also work closely with Hereford YOT (Young Offenders Team) to help young offenders who risk becoming PPOs themselves. These young people come to the farm on a weekly basis and, as a result, develop responsibilities and relationships with eachother, staff and the animals. They can begin to enjoy and understand both nature and themselves through this highly beneficial approach.

 
Since the inception of the PPO scheme involving care farming, locally, there has been a 15% reduction in crime, a 55% reduction in house burglaries and a 33% reduction in vehicle crime. The scheme has also saved over £45,000 to the local community due to the attendance at the farm of 2 persistent offenders.