How our goats change lives
Handley Care Farm
Over the last few years, all of us at Handley Farm have witnessed the incredible impact that being in the presence of the goats has had on two young children with special educational needs.
Handley Farm and its wonderful countryside environment has also provided a haven for a number of teenagers and adults with other various needs at different times in their lives.
Keen to enable others in the community to benefit from this special environment, we have established a care farm.
In its early stages, we are excited to have been approached by a school considering us for an alternative provision for any students who they feel would benefit, and others with additional needs who receive personal budgets, but are unable to find the right experiences in a school environment.
We know first hand the positive impact of this venture on the Derbyshire community and are so excited to see where this takes us over the coming year.
Lucy’s Story
This is Lucy. She has Autism, ADHD and development delay. Lucy visits Handley Farm every Sunday to spend time with the goats.
My daughter Lucy is 12 years old. She has autism, ADHD and development delay. From day one, Lucy has been treated with respect and seen as an individual in her own right at Handley Farm. Lucy’s desire to be with animals has been embraced here allowing her to have supervised independence in a way that is rare to find. As a result Lucy has grown in the respect that she has for animals. She has been given an incredible opportunity to gain greater understanding of the goats’ needs and the farming process.
Lucy also has demand avoidance and so getting her to complete any job is a constant battle! – but with the goats, many things she sees as being less of a demand (depending upon the job of course!). The affection that Lucy receives from the goats in the calm environment of Handley Farm provides Lucy with a non-judgmental feedback that has an incredibly positive impact upon her behaviour and confidence. Her weekly visits over the past 4 years are now firmly embedded in her routine and she would be lost without it.
Sally
If you’re interested in finding out more about the care farm and how you could get involved either as a visitor or volunteer, please get in touch.
Goat Experience Days
If you’re looking for something different to do in the Derbyshire Dales, come and visit Handley Farm and enjoy a Goat Experience Day.
You’ll be able to watch the goats being milked - and even have a go too! Take a goat for a walk, feed the goats and spend time with them. They are very friendly and love attention. Lots of opportunities for cuddles with the goats, giving their coats a brush and taking selfies with them!
We visited the farm for our daughter’s 21st and had a fantastic time. It’s not just about a walk as you get a full interactive experience! We had a warm welcome from Sally and, although we couldn’t go on the planned walk in the fields because of the weather, we spent several hours in the barn meeting the animals, feeding the goats and chatting about the farm. What’s not to love!
Lots of opportunities for cuddles and goat selfies with animals that are loved and cared for, so we highly recommended it.
Go! You wont regret it!!
Stuart
For more information about Goat Experience Days, please contact Sue on 07592 302565 or leave us a message, and we’ll be in touch.
