clairedavieswriter

Before I reached my B&B tonight, I knew it was on a working farm. But it turned out that the work it does is rather different from what I imagined. Its relatively new owner, Pierre, a 30-something former logistics manager with no farming experience, explained that it’s what the Dutch call a ‘Care Farm’.
How it works is the government gives grants to farmers to host people with poor mental health, or who are struggling to find work, with the aim of helping them get back on their feet. The ‘clients’ work on Pierre’s farm three days a week, grooming horses, shearing sheep, tending vegetables, or cleaning the B&B accommodation. In doing so, they learn new skills, and are given structure that may have been lacking. Most importantly, for those individuals who are going through very dark times, they are given, as Pierre put it, ‘a reason to live another day – even if it’s just to see the white roses again’.
For the government, it is likely worth the investment even if it only works for a few people. And clearly, from Pierre’s perspective, the scheme is an essential part of his business model. But it was also clear, from how he talked about the positive impact on his clients, that he finds the work rewarding in ways far beyond the financial. It’s truly a win-win-win.
Unsurprisingly, the Netherlands has received enquiries from other countries interested in launching a similar scheme. It would be great to think the UK was one of them…