RAU sponsoring school farming awards
12 Mar 2020
The RAU is sponsoring two school farm awards in the Social Farms & Gardens’ 40th Anniversary Awards.
Social Farms & Gardens is a leading UK wide charity, which supports communities to farm, garden and grow together.
Their awards are a chance to recognise the local groups and organisations that are improving the health and wellbeing of individuals, communities and the environment through nature-based activities.
The RAU is sponsoring two school farm award categories:
- The best school farm development, and
- The best involvement of student(s) in running a school farm
The winners will be announced on Tuesday 5 May.
Liam Dowson, Associate Head of Recruitment and Widening Participation at the RAU, said: “As the RAU celebrates its 175th year, it has never-been more important to champion the future of farming, so we are delighted to be supporting Social Farms & Gardens’ 40th Anniversary by sponsoring their awards.
“We engage with schools as part of our outreach work to not only celebrate the role of school farms in growing understanding of land-based industries but to raise aspirations from a young age about higher education options and future careers in the sector.”
Chris Blythe, Director of Social Farms & Gardens, said: “We are hugely grateful for the fantastic support for these awards from the RAU, who have been an invaluable partner for a great many years in our work with school farms. All schools can benefit hugely from using the natural world as a resource. School farming approaches such as learning outdoors or caring for animals - show significant improvements to exam results, self-esteem and overall wellbeing and happiness. Children themselves are demanding a greener future, and the importance of equipping them with the tools to support their natural environment is ever growing.”
The RAU is a proud partner of the School Farms Network (SFN) which consists of more than 120 school farms across the UK. The School Farms Network, set up by Social Farms & Gardens in 2004, is also a joint partner.
Social Farms & Gardens have lots of activities and monthly events UK-wide planned to celebrate their 40th Anniversary. Visit their website for more information.