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The charitable activities of The Company include...
Agricultural Education
Advanced Course in Agricultural Business Management.
First held in 1963, the 59th Course organised by the Company, took place at The Royal Agricultural College from 17 January - 5 February 2010. A three week intensive residential course; the content included seminars, group discussions, case studies and lectures. This course is intended for managers of businesses in the agricultural industry.
Stimulating agricultural education has always been an integral objective of the Worshipful Company of Farmers, and the quantity and quality of the applications received for the forthcoming course are a clear indication of the level of esteem this course is held within the agricultural industry. Interviews were conducted at the Farmers and Fletchers Hall on 7th October by Liverymen from the Education Committee, senior menbers of the Company together with representation from the Royal Agricultural College. Selection proved a difficult task however 20 delegates were chosen from agricultural businesses all over the UK, as well as one from Portugal and another from New Zealand.
For more details about the course content and how to apply for future courses, please contact Professor John Alliston john.alliston@rac.ac.uk or course administrator rhonda.thompson@rac.ac.uk . For enquiries of a more general nature please contact Liveryman Robert Cooper cooper@farm94.freeserve.co.uk
For further information on the Course click on the link to the Royal Agricultural College: http://www.rac.ac.uk/?id=4350
Challenge of Rural Leadership Course
A two week intensive residential course organised by the Company, is held at Dartington Hall, Totnes, Devon TQ9 6EL and run by Duchy College, University of Plymouth. Through lectures, visits, discussion, case studies and development of communication and media skills the course is intended for agriculture and agri business managers with at least five years experience.
The 2010 Challenge of Rural Leadership Course ( the 15th Course) will be held at Dartington Hall on 7th - 20th November. For more information on the course and how to apply please click on the link to Duchy College at the end of this paragraph. The 14th Challenge of Rural Leadership Course held in November 2009 was considered a most successful and valuable event by all the seventeen delegates. Fifteen were from the UK, one from Rumania and one from Australia. If you have any queries, please contact Val Ryall, Course Administrator at E- mail: val.ryall@duchy.ac.uk . For further information click on the link to Duchy College: Duchy College
Overseas Travel Awards
The Henman Awards
Through generous donations to the Companies Charitable Fund, Henman Awards have been awarded since 1972 to assist young men and women to gain practical experience for their agricultural or horticultural careers. The Awards provide financial assistance to fund overseas travel.
The Britain-Australia Bicentennial Trust, Farmers Award
Established in 1991 to assist UK farming students to gain experience in Australia for up to twelve months.
The Attfield Brooks Apprenticeship Fund
Set up in 1989 to assist Company Apprentices to 'learn the art and science of agriculture'. To pursue a formal education in agriculture and to widen their experiences by overseas travel.
The Jubilee Scholarships for student support
The Jubilee Scholarships
In 2002 the Company established a Scholarship Fund to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the Farmers Company and Her Majesty The Queen's Golden Jubilee.
The terms of the Scholarship allows the Company to support students in education and training at all levels. Candidates for the Scholarship can include:
- Young Farmers from the age of 18
- Students on Higher Education
- Post-Graduate Students
- Mature Students attending Management Courses
Recognition of Achievement in Education
Agricultural College Prizes
An annual prize is awarded to twelve of the leading Agricultural Colleges, to the student who has shown excellence in their chosen subject
The Farmers Prize for Attitude and Endeavour
An annual scholarship prize is awarded to the top boy and girl pupil at the City of London Freeman's School
The Company's support for the Surrey Docks Farm, Rotherhithe
Surrey Docks Farm is a unique establishment that is situated on the bank of the River Thames in Southeast London. The farm has grown over the last 30 years into an organisation that provides a diverse range of services and activities that promote the issues around food, farming, and the environment. The organisation is primarily a community education and training resource for local people and children who would not otherwise have access to such a resource in the urban environment. Currently the farms services include educational experiences for schools and children, youth programmes and school-holiday activities, supported learning programmes for adults with learning disabilities, a healthy eating cafe that promotes farming in relation to the food served, a variety of volunteer programmes and training programmes to promote issues around animal care and welfare, a resident artist blacksmith providing workshops to local people and schools, and a variety of 'ad-hock' events and activities that promote environmental issues and family activities.
Surrey Docks Farm receives revenue funding and also generates income from services that help to meet most of the costs to adequately staff the farm and its projects. However, the farm struggles to generate sufficient capital funds to develop practical aspects of the farm that would allow them to make efficient use of the land and develop breeding programmes to increase their herds and flocks of livestock.
Capital Funding for specific projects and agricultural advice available from the Worshipful Company of Farmers
The Company provides funding of a capital nature for the purchase or improvement of buildings and for the purchase of livestock and tools. In recent years, the Worshipful Company has funded and coordinated practical developments including the building of concrete platforms on which the paddock water troughs now stand, and arranged for the building of a concrete floor to the farms cattle shed. These improvements enabled the farm to increase its number of pastoral livestock, as there were no longer any concerns as to whether the animal's accommodation and environment was not sufficient to meet their own high standards and animal welfare needs.
In December 2007 two red poll heifers ( which calved in January 2009) were donated to Surrey Docks Farm by Liveryman John Brooks, to mark his 50 year association with the Company. The Company's latest project just completed, was to organise the water supply and automatic nipple drinkers for the pigs.