Swansea Community Farm

In April 2021 Ryan began volunteering at Swansea Community Farm (Welsh - Fferm Gymunedol Abertawe). For now, he attends one day a week on a Tuesday from 10 am to 4 pm but there is a possibility that he could also volunteer on Thursdays as well also 10 am to 4 pm.

About the Farm

Swansea Community Farm is the only city farm in Wales set in 3.5 acres of land with a variety of animals, an allotment, wildlife habitats, beehives and a café.

The animals include donkeys, goats, sheep, pigs, ducks, geese, chickens and bees.

The farm aims to improve wellbeing, build skills and create a sense of community engagement by caring for the animals, producing local food and caring for the local environment.

Duties

Ryan has enjoyed a variety of different duties so far. He has walked the donkeys, sheep and geese from their barns out to their fields and pond. Collected eggs from the chickens, and has mucked out the donkey sheds. He has also cleaned out the chicken coops, cleaned and refilled all the animal feeding and water stations.

There are also grounds-keeping duties that Ryan has helped with such as clearing paths and over-hanging branches ready for when the Farm reopens to the public, once COVID restrictions allow.

Volunteering

Volunteering allows Ryan to build resilience after a gruelling 5 years of cancer treatment and helps to nurture and develop his social skills due to his autism. He will gain confidence, learn new skills and develop new friendships that all build on his Animal Care qualifications.

Due to Ryan's health conditions and autism, he is not yet ready for full-time employment but by volunteering, he is more active, creating connections in working with animals, improving his mental health and wellbeing being outside in nature and he is learning new skills.

It is a great way to prepare him for a better future while doing something that he loves. Working with animals.

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