At Jamie’s Farm, we’re lucky to work with incredible people whose passion for supporting young people shines through in everything they do. Ben’s journey with us is a perfect example of how life-changing our programme can be, not just for the young people we work with, but for the staff and volunteers too.
From his first visit in 2020 as a School Data Manager stepping in at the last minute, to becoming Senior Visit Coordinator at our Skipton farm, Ben’s story is one of discovery and forging new paths. Ben experienced a “penny drop” moment with us that sparked a complete career change, and now he helps young people find their confidence and potential every day in Yorkshire’s beautiful countryside.
Over to Ben…
Who knew my Jamie’s Farm journey would kick off back in 2020, when I was crunching numbers as a Data Manager for a secondary school in Salford? When the Head of Year 9 had to bow out of a planned trip to the Monmouth farm, I was asked to step in to join the small group leaving school to live on a working farm for 5 days. I soon found myself on a long minibus ride, filled with excitement – and some doubts – about the days ahead. Once we arrived, the warm welcome from the Jamie’s Farm team quickly put the students (and me) at ease.
The week was overwhelmingly positive, with all the young people embracing everything the farm had to offer. I know for a fact the visiting school staff had a brilliant time too and were able to build important connections with the young people in this completely different setting. What struck me was how the Jamie’s Farm team created a warm, friendly, family atmosphere and how effortlessly they brought all of us into that feeling.
A lightbulb moment in Monmouth
During that first visit, while doing the washing up following a big hearty meal with the group, I had a lightbulb moment about wanting to work somewhere like this. I had always believed I was happy working indirectly with young people, preferring the boundaries of an office. I realised that working with smaller groups allowed me to know them as individuals, not just names on a computer. The Monmouth team even suggested to my school that I was wasted behind a computer and should be in a more pastoral role, as I connected well with the students. I’d never received feedback like that before, so it really hit home. I often joke that I imprinted on that team like a newborn duckling, following their lead and emulating their approach.
Finding my calling through volunteering
Following that first visit, I decided I wasn’t done with Jamie’s Farm and found myself volunteering at Monmouth during a half term. I was struck by how the team created such a safe space for the young people and each other to open up about how they were feeling, what support they needed, their highs and lows. I had never witnessed this in action before, and I found it enlightening.
I was later asked to join the Ambassador programme – now the Jamie’s Farm Youth Champions – as a volunteer. This gave me the opportunity to work across all the residential farms while meeting the wider team. This experience solidified my desire to be involved with the charity, confirming that the special atmosphere at the Monmouth farm wasn’t a one off!
Life as Senior Visit Coordinator at Jamie’s Farm Skipton
Eventually, the stars aligned, and I now work as Senior Visit Coordinator at our northernmost farm, Skipton. I find each day is a rewarding adventure. I arrive about an hour before our visiting group to collaborate with the team, fine-tuning session plans and ensuring everything is set up for the day. When the young people arrive, we kick things off with a warm welcome and some of our famous Skipton farm toast, a hearty start for the activities ahead.
Our mornings often begin with a group check-in, where everyone shares their thoughts and are able to set intentions for the day. We then dive into hands-on tasks like chopping logs or getting creative in woodworking sessions. Lunchtime is always a highlight of the day, when we all gather around the big table in our ‘Old Dairy’, sharing stories and enjoying a meal together.
Afternoons are tailored to the group’s energy, interests and needs. We might return to farm tasks or get stuck into playing games in the barn. As the day winds down, we hold a check-out meeting to reflect on our experiences. After the group departs, the team and I debrief, prepare for the next visit and I often find the time to edit our ‘celebration’ videos that we share with visiting schools, a joyful way to highlight the many achievements that take place at the farm. Every day here is filled with really meaningful interactions and I find a lot of joy in witnessing young people connect with both the countryside and themselves.
Transforming the farm and growing community
Since we began hosting day visits in April 2023, the farm has blossomed. We’ve planted kilometres of hedging, created a new orchard, built a polytunnel and fruit cage, dug garden beds, moved pigs into our woodlands, constructed a huge new barn complete with an indoor horse arena, and established an amazing new wetland area in partnership with the Ribble Rivers Trust. It’s been brilliant to see our team grow and to welcome many enthusiastic volunteers to the #JFSkipton community. We are grateful to work alongside a truly fantastic group of people.
Day visits: Small steps, big impact
We’ve been conducting day visits for nearly two years now, with small school groups joining us for one day a week for six weeks. This ‘drip drip’ approach has had a lasting impact on many of the young people we’ve worked with, something visiting staff have observed back in school. It’s been particularly effective for young people who might have found it too challenging to be away from home for an entire school week, allowing them to build relationships with their peers and adults at a more comfortable pace, giving them time to reflect on their achievements and reinforcing positive changes.
A memorable moment for me was with a young person in Year 6 from one of our partner schools in Keighley. They left the morning meeting on the first day quite shy and reserved, but after spending time running up (and rolling down) the hills in our wide-open fields, they returned brimming with confidence and conversation. Their teacher remarked that this was the first time in almost seven years they had seen them so full of energy and positivity, a sentiment echoed by the young person’s family at home.
Lessons learned: seeing potential in every young person
Working with Jamie’s Farm has helped me to see the huge positive potential in every young person, viewing them as individuals, not just as names and statistics on a spreadsheet. I was guilty of labelling some young people in the schools I worked in as the “bad” or “naughty” ones, without separating their behaviours from them as people, or being curious about the reasons behind their actions.
I genuinely love it when a young person reflects on their time on the farm and highlights something unexpected as their favourite part – like managing to chop a log with a heavy axe after trying for an entire session. Never doubt their determination! I also enjoy creating the celebration videos for the farm visits.
Regenerative farming and future plans
I must admit, I knew nothing about regenerative farming before working at Jamie’s Farm, but I fundamentally believe that it is our duty to leave the land better than we found it – through regenerative practices, good land and animal management and appropriate rewilding. I am especially excited to see how the wetland area develops and what wildlife it attracts. The way this space and the natural wonders around us inspire our visiting young people really is something to behold.
Our farm is a sprawling 250-acre haven, far from the hustle and bustle of city life. This peaceful setting helps everyone feel like they’ve truly left their daily routines behind, embracing the ‘life swap’ we encourage here. The views from anywhere on the farm are spectacular. Personally, I love standing at our trig point, looking out towards the Yorkshire Dales National Park, or atop the aptly named ‘Steep Bank’ field, overlooking our wetland area with Pendle Hill in the distance.
Looking ahead, I want us to be the best farm we can be, showcasing all that’s great about farming in Yorkshire. We dream of connecting more and more young people with the countryside, welcoming residential groups from even further afield, and having the best time while doing it!
Thinking of joining? Take the leap!
If you’re thinking about joining the Jamie’s Farm team, my advice? Volunteer! It’s the best way to see how this amazing charity works, by living it yourself alongside the brilliant young people who come to our farms every week. You might even have a little light-bulb moment while washing up, just like I did…
