Box farm gains £3k grant to widen scope (From This Is Wiltshire)

A £3,000 grant has been secured for Box children’s residential charity Jamie’s Farm, after help from a Melksham accountant.

Tim Lerwill, director at Old Mill accountants, secured the funds through his links with the Worshipful Association of Chartered Accountants.

He said: “The charity has a particular focus on education and helping the disadvantaged, and I felt Jamie’s Farm fitted the bill perfectly as it uses farm care and education to help vulnerable and disadvantaged children.”

Jamie’s Farm, based in Ditteridge, was founded by teacher Jamie Feilden to engage children from disadvantaged urban backgrounds. It hosts visits for children aged from eight to 18, helping them improve their self-esteem, behaviour and engagement.

Mr Feilden is hoping to expand the charity nationwide.

He said: “Our 2012-2015 strategy is to take Jamie’s Farm to the next level, expand the charity across the UK and help more children.

“With Tim’s help we asked for £3,000 to go towards the core cost funding required to deliver this strategy and were delighted when we were awarded the full amount.”

Mr Lerwill said: “Through a residential visit to a working farm offering a unique combination of family, farming and therapy, Jamie’s Farm acts as a catalyst for change that is vitally important to the lives of the young people involved.

“I am therefore delighted that our funding application was successful.”