Young people's Life skills

Our Vision : We aim to support thousands of Young People to access Rural England. The young people who currently work on the farm are powerful examples of the benefits to spending time in rural England, spending time in nature, being around animals and being outside in the fresh air. In a short space of time they have transformed physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. 

The Need : There has been a huge increase in demand for our services since Covid 19 pandemic; with waiting lists to get involved on the farm and volunteer; learn new employability and life skills; and most importantly benefit from the farm environment for mental health. We have been working with young people for the past 20 years. We specialise in working with young people aged between 16-30. We are really good at what we do because we care about young people and their futures.

We work with all young people; especially those who are unemployed. Either from self referrals or referrals from other agencies. We work closely with our local council, Active Lancashire, Lancashire BME network, Lancashire Children and well-being services and other local organisations.

New Experiences : We have such a diverse range of activities involving working with animals and working with the natural environment. General duties include walking animals, grooming them, moving animals around the farm to different areas of the site, mucking out housing, feeding animals, making sure all the stables are clean, dog kennels and cattery are  fit for purpose. We also have regular vet visits to manage, farrier and sheep shearers who all need attending to too.

We have a range of land management activities from composting, making pathways and the upkeep of the public footpaths, fencing, stile creation, dry stone walling, building raised beds, tree planting, pond development and other landscaping work around the site. 

Learning : We also have class room time with learning based on Maslow's hierarchy of needs. We explore the Physical, Mental, Emotional, Spiritual and the Ethical aspects of life. We also have other forms of support which involve Life coaching, Counselling, Mentoring, Life skills and other forms of training such as Safeguarding, Health and Safety, Mental health in the workplace. We do incorporate Left and Right brain learning styles in all of our work.

Our Charity : Shiva Trust Charity was founded in 2012 by The Ennis-Cole Family. After several years of hard work, we are now the proud owners of a 26 acre farm. We are constantly developing the farm site. We have just completed a two storey barn for our rescued animals,  and a new charity office onsite.

Tree planting with a youth group from Manchester .

Liam and Ben at the pond working on the regeneration work

Youth group preparing fruit and vegetables for rescued Animals 

Eesha with a volunteer grooming the horses 

Eesha with Tulsi the orphaned lamb 

Young volunteering lowering in a duck platform into the pond.