A young care-leaver whose life was transformed by Jamie’s Farm has set off on an epic 320-mile walk from Bath to North Yorkshire to help more young people facing challenges.
Kieran, 22, who has been care-experienced since the age of seven and now works at the Bath-based charity, began his 18-day journey this weekend from Jamie’s Farm headquarters at Hill House Farm near Bath.
The walk will take him to the charity’s northernmost farm in Skipton, North Yorkshire, via Jamie’s Farm sites in Monmouth and Hereford. Along the route, Kieran will tackle remote countryside, ancient drovers’ tracks, the Wye Valley and the Malvern Hills, averaging around 20 miles a day.
Kieran is taking on the challenge to support Jamie’s Farm’s Challenge for Change appeal, which aims to raise £140,000 in three weeks to expand its residential programmes and help more young people across the UK.
Having worked at Jamie’s Farm for the past three years, Kieran says the charity has had a life-changing impact on him.
He said, “I’m doing this walk because I love Jamie’s Farm. I have been working here for three years and it has changed my life.
“I can’t wait to walk with other staff from Jamie’s Farm and reach the finish line. I am excited to do a big challenge to raise money, and I hope people can give generously to the Challenge for Change campaign to help us support more young people than ever before.”
Throughout the walk, Kieran will be joined by members of the charity, including co-founder Jamie Feilden, and will meet young people who have benefited from the organisation’s residential programmes.
His foster mum, Beccie, has seen first-hand the difference Jamie’s Farm has made.
She said, “Over the three years Kieran has been helping at Jamie’s Farm, he has thrived and flourished beyond recognition. He has grown in confidence and independence alongside his sense of humour, which is now almost as big as his smile!
“Throughout his life, Kieran has had to overcome so many huge challenges. However, at Jamie’s Farm he has found his tribe and can be true to himself, allowing him to grow and develop in the most positive way. He’s living the dream.”
Helping young people thrive
Founded in 2009 by Jamie Feilden and his mother Tish, a trained psychotherapist, Jamie’s Farm works with young people aged 11 to 16 who are struggling academically, socially or emotionally.
Through immersive residential stays across the charity’s seven farms, young people take part in real farming activities, including caring for animals, preparing meals, chopping wood and daily walks in nature.
The charity’s latest research found that 64% of young people referred to its programme showed improved wellbeing six months later, while 68% of those previously at risk of exclusion from school were no longer at risk six months after attending.
Challenge for Change comes as Jamie’s Farm celebrates 17 years of supporting young people and approaching the milestone of welcoming 20,000 young people through its gates.
Jamie Feilden said, “Every day at Jamie’s Farm, we see the transformative power of young people getting stuck into real farming jobs in these beautiful landscapes, away from the pressures of mobile phones and social media.
“Young people often arrive unsure of their potential, and they leave with genuine self-belief and a renewed sense of hope and possibility for their futures.
“We are so proud of Kieran for taking this epic challenge on. He has overcome many challenges of his own through his life, and we have no doubt he will approach this with the same quiet determination.
“Challenge can be a genuine turning point and lead to lasting change – that’s why we named the campaign Challenge for Change. Kieran completely embodies this spirit.”
Every donation made to the appeal between 6 and 24 June will be doubled through match funding, meaning the charity needs to raise £70,000 in donations to reach its £140,000 target.
