Future Roots – COVID-19 funding appeal

Aim: During the COVID-19 crisis, we need your support so we can continue to help some of Dorset’s most vulnerable young people and their families

Why have we launched a Crowdfunder for Future Roots?

Over more than a decade our experienced staff have used farming and the countryside to support young people. Most are at risk of exclusion from school, but by working together we’re usually able to find a way forward. 1000 young people have taken part in our programmes since we began.

We support each young person to take part in a combination of animal-assisted therapy and learning. That includes both vocational skills and functional skills in Maths and English. With our help, 90% find a college place or a job once they leave school.

COVID-19 has changed the way we support these young people. They’ve become more isolated and their mental health is suffering. Their families are struggling with basic supplies. They’re missing out on their education.   

Your support is vital and will enable Future Roots to continue our work during this crisis and support young people in new ways. 

How will this money be used?

No one should be left behind because of COVID-19. We need your help to fund:

• Farm-based therapy: at the request of Dorset Council we continue to provide sessions on our farm for very vulnerable young people. But because of social distancing we must keep numbers low and provide our own transport to and from the farm.
• Tutoring: some of the young people we work with leave school with only the qualifications they gain with us. We can provide individual tutoring to make sure they pass their exams.
• Food and basic supplies: many of our young people’s families are struggling with losses in income. We’re partnering with Waitrose in Sherborne to deliver food supplies direct to their doors. But we need help with extra supplies and the cost of transport.

We are Future Roots

We’ve been in the heart of the Dorset countryside since 2008. We’ve now been supporting young people for over a decade and want to continue for many years to come.

Future Roots was the vision of our founder, Julie Plumley. Julie’s a Dorset farmer’s daughter but went on to have a long career in social work. Future Roots combines the best of both worlds.