Learning and growing togetherAnnual Review 2016

We were greatly saddened by the sudden death of the Duke of Westminster in August 2016. The Duke was an outstanding and generous President of The Country Trust for more than 20 years and he gave his wholehearted support to opening up the world of food, farming and the countryside to the children least able to access it. This included welcoming hundreds of children each year to his home in Cheshire on Country Trust visits. For him it was unthinkable that children should be denied opportunities to experience the countryside and everything that this entails.

We have benefitted hugely from the Duke’s support over the years: his thoughtful strategic guidance drawing on his years of business leadership and of leading the Army Reserve; his

understanding of fundraising; and his generosity – his financial support has enabled a step change in the development of The Country Trust.

We are delighted that the new Duke of Westminster is continuing to encourage and support Country Trust visits at Eaton, and are grateful to his Estate team for their continued commitment to providing life-enhancing experiences.

We will continue to champion the most disadvantaged children in our society, but we miss our President hugely and are grateful for his input, passion and support over the last two decades.

The late Duke of Westminster KG CB CVO OBE TD CD DL

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Thank you so much to all of you for the support you have given to The Country Trust in 2016. I hope that you enjoy reading about the difference you have made.

As Chair of Trustees and a Country Trust farmer host, I know that the work that The Country Trust does is life-changing. In 2016, many disadvantaged children discovered a whole new world with The Country Trust, a world beyond their urban neighbourhoods. Seeing farm animals for the first time, being on a beach for the first time, running through a field for the first time – these are all experiences and opportunities which really do have the potential to change lives, building a knowledge of and a connection with the working countryside. The Country Trust also gives a farmer like me the

opportunity to share my world and see it through new eyes – not just once but with every school visit – I really love that.

For a charity to serve its beneficiaries well, a great deal of ‘behind the scenes’ work is required, vital work but not always shouted about. I am confident that the work that has been done behind the scenes in our charity in 2016 will provide a solid foundation enabling The Country Trust to grow in the year to come, and to face the many challenges ahead.

I look forward to all that we can achieve together in 2017.

Tina Fanshawe Chairman of Trustees, The Country Trust

Introduction from our Chairman of Trustees

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Introduction from our Chief Executive

The importance of our mission has been thrown into sharp focus in 2016. We learnt that one in five children lives in poverty, and that children from the poorest families are twice as likely to have 1Special Educational Needs, 2twice as likely to be obese, 3three times as likely to have a mental health problem and are 4just under half as likely to achieve the expected standard in reading, writing and

mathematics than children growing up in more affluent homes. Our 2016 evaluation showed us that 40% of the children attending our Suffolk residentials had never been to a forest, a farm, or the beach.

We can’t solve all the challenges these children face, but with your help we can begin to address the poverty of opportunity they experience, which can unlock so much. For many children, even taking a coach journey to a new, unknown place is a big challenge. To be welcomed by new adults, and shown an amazing new world, and to leave feeling a part of it, fizzing with new knowledge to share is transformative. To stay in this new world for a few days on a Country Trust residential visit, or to learn to cook a meal for your family from vegetables you have grown as

part of a year of Food Discovery, can have an even bigger impact.

I don’t doubt that the year ahead will bring a new array of challenges, but it will also bring new evidence of the surprise, delight and new possibilities that The Country Trust brings to children. Thank you for standing with us, whether as a financial supporter, a volunteer or a farmer host. We don’t ever take your support for granted. Together we can help children to become more knowledgeable, more resilient, more confident and feel a greater connection with food, farming and the working countryside.

Jill Attenborough CEO, The Country Trust

1 SEN and their links to poverty – Rowntree2 Childhood Obesity a Plan for Action HM Gov 3 Centreforum Commission on children and young people’s

mental health4 gov.uk/SFR62_2016

About the Country Trust

Since 1978 The Country Trust has been making it possible for hundreds of volunteer farmers and landowners to welcome thousands of disadvantaged children from all backgrounds and faiths onto their farms every year, to share their passion for food, farming and the countryside. We are currently active in eleven areas of England and Wales including London, Hampshire, the Home Counties, East Anglia, East Midlands, West Midlands, North Wales, Manchester, Liverpool, Yorkshire and Northumberland. Each year around 25,000 children learn and grow through three connected Country Trust programmes:

1. Farm and Countryside Discovery day visits to real working farms

2. Countryside Discovery residential visits

3. Year-long Food Discovery programmes exploring every aspect of growing, cooking and even selling food

Our vision Every child has experience of, and values the countryside and understands its role in producing our food through high quality learning experiences.

Our mission To bring food, farming and the countryside alive for disadvantaged children, sharing knowledge, igniting curiosity and broadening horizons.

Our Outcomes

This is the difference we want to make to disadvantaged children, and to farmers and teachers:

• Children, their parent helpers and teachers are more knowledgeable and more aware of food, farming and the countryside

• More farmers are able to share their love and passion for what they do

• Children are more engaged with formal education as a result of ‘real world’ and interactive learning experiences

• Children are better able to make informed decisions about the food that they eat

• Children feel more responsible for their own and the wider environment

• Children have more opportunities to develop and display non-cognitive skills, to experience patience, wonder and success

• Children feel more at home in the countryside and greenspace

• More teachers see the potential of the countryside as a learning resource and feel more confident to use it to enhance their teaching

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“Children have met and interacted with a whole range of new and unfamiliar adults – they’ve learned about different landscapes, jobs and lives.” Teacher, Woolmore Primary School

“Every person, in every community, in every part of Britain, should feel a part of our nation and have every opportunity to succeed in it.” Casey Review 2016

Focus on

Sharing experiences

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“Most children from our school have never been to the countryside, the beach or seen real live animals. An experience not to be missed.” Class teacher, Winston Way Primary School

“The children have additional learning needs and the farm visits allow them to experience first hand how food is grown and produced. Writing about cows and sheep does not have the same impact as seeing the dogs herd the sheep or allowing the cows to sniff their hands!!!” Deputy Head of Behaviour Support Unit, St Christopher’s School

“We took a child to the farm who cannot walk and cannot talk. This was the first time taking her on a trip so we were a little apprehensive. However, there was no need to be, the staff there were fantastic at including her. She came in a pushchair and there were parts of our walk where it would have been difficult to get the pushchair across but the staff helped to lift the chair and the child was included at all times. They made sure she was having a chance to feel things and they spent a lot of time with the girl and communicated well with her. I certainly wouldn’t hesitate to take her again.” SENCO, Ditchingham Church of England Primary School

“It is hugely rewarding welcoming children to our farm, to be touched by their raw energy and zest for life. There’s nothing better than watching the light bulb moment when a child connects something we are doing, to their food. For example, the simple action of a child using a hand mill to grind wheat into flour.” Christy Willett, farmer host

“Children who find learning inside the classroom difficult at times, really shone on the day” Teacher, Newlands Primary

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We received the second of three transformational grants from the Westminster Foundation to develop our charity. This enabled:

• The creation of a small central team, including in 2016 a Finance Manager and Fundraising Manager

• A 30% growth in income, and the reestablishment of our reserves in line with our reserves policy

• The launch of our new mobile-friendly website with regularly updated engaging content and integrated donation platform, making it easy for potential new schools, hosts, volunteers and donors to contact us

• Clear communications planning and the sharing of our stories through national, regional and social media

We received funding from the John Ellerman Foundation supporting:

• The managers of our Farm Discovery, Food Discovery and Countryside Discovery Residential programmes

• Team meetings and a conference bringing together all our geographically dispersed, primarily home-based Coordinators, a chance for inspiration, training and sharing of best practice

We produced our first full set of evaluation reports for each of our three programmes. Teachers tell us that Country Trust experiences add value to classroom learning, and that across our programmes they have seen evidence of:

• Growth in pupil confidence and self-esteem

• Improved speaking and listening skills

• A greater sense of agency

• Improved motivation and engagement with school life

• Improving attitudes towards school attendance

Volunteers

900 volunteers collectively donated 11,000 hours of their time including an amazing network of landowners and farmers welcoming children onto their farms and estates. We would like to say a special thank you to all our volunteers for their commitment and support, and mention specifically our Volunteer IT Consultant, Martin Stevens, for his extraordinary expert support.

Our year at a glance

Strategic Focus

Our 2015-2017 Strategic Plan is now well underway, underpinned by the Westminster Foundation’s funding.

We are pleased to report:

• Growth in the number of children participating in our three programmes

• The continued accessibility of our programmes, to ALL children regardless of ability or mobility

• Significant progress with the systems and processes that underpin the quality and effectiveness of our programmes

• Increasingly effective leadership for our three programmes

• A big leap forward in evaluating the quality, relevance and impact of our work with three individual reports and a summary report published on our website in September

Partnerships

We are proud to be part of:

• Countryside Classroom — the online food, farming and the natural environment portal and partnership that helps teachers to find resources, places to visit and school support

• Learning Away — 6 years of research underpinning the championing of #BrilliantResidentials

• Access To Farms — a broad and effective collaboration of organisations concerned with encouraging safe, quality visits to farms

• LEAF’s Open Farm Sunday

• Farming And Countryside Education

• And to be working in partnership with Sparsholt College Hampshire

• Continued Programme development including a summer holiday farm visit pilot, and the evolution of our Food Discovery programme to meet increasing pupil numbers and reduced budgets

• Diversification of our income including corporate partnerships with Openfield, BASF and Caterlink and enabling individuals to give via a new online regular giving facility

“It was amazing how the chance to spend time in the countryside had such a positive impact on how the children interacted with each other.” Teacher, Beccles Primary Academy

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Children

In total, 24,649 children have benefitted from Country Trust activities

Farm Discovery

18,079 children experienced Farm Discovery day visits to real working farms

96% of teachers agreed that visits had helped children to reach a better understanding of where food comes from

3,000 children from all backgrounds took part in Country Trust educational activities associated with agricultural shows in Hampshire

3,570 children took part in educational farming activities with The Country Trust in schools

361 children with Special Educational Needs took part in Countryside Adventure Days in Hampshire

• All teachers agreed that the children had enjoyed their Country Trust experience

• All teachers agreed that children had gained confidence in the outdoors and countryside

• We ran our first Farm Discovery visit for children on a school holiday club (for children attracting Pupil Premium)

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Countryside Discovery Residentials

918 children went on 35 residential visits to the countryside in Norfolk, Suffolk and Yorkshire

50% of children rated the activities offered on our residentials as “Off the scale – AMAZING!”. Sensory activities like pony trekking, cave and beach exploration and forest and campfire experiences scored particularly highly

33% of children going on our residentials are visiting farms, forests and beach locations for the first time

• We addressed poverty of opportunity and brought communities together who would otherwise never meet

Food Discovery

1,113 children went on a journey of Food Discovery – cooking, growing, farm visits, running markets and preparing and sharing a feast together

77% of children went on to cook a Food Discovery meal at home

60% of children are confident they could grow something at home

• We presented our findings at the Natural England Nature Connections 2016 conference at the University of Derby

• We embarked on our first ever Food Discovery programme with a school for children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities in Norwich

• We worked with parents in 3 schools, teaching them cooking and growing

“Seeing the less confident children engage and join in made my life as a teacher worthwhile” Teacher, Boothroyd Primary Academy

As a result of successful delivery of Food Discovery to individual year groups over three years, Sacred Heart school asked us to train all their staff in cooking and growing so that the whole school could benefit from the programme. A year of training teaching staff and teaching support staff, and working strategically with the whole school means that every child now experiences embedded cooking and growing during the school year, supported by Farm Discovery visits and light touch monitoring and support from the Food Discovery team. We hope that this could be a model for other schools.

Sustainability

Focus on

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“Poorer families can face the greatest challenges. This is because of the direct impact on living standards and the stresses that poverty puts on family life.” Child poverty strategy 2014-17, HM Government

Thanks to funding from the Postcode Community Trust we were able to send 2 full coaches of families from our Food Discovery schools in Birmingham to Open Farm Sunday events — about a third of these families were visiting the British countryside for the first time.

We have provided cooking classes and food discovery experiences to support the intensive programmes for vulnerable parents led by the Pastoral Team at Catton Grove Primary School.

We have run cooking and growing sessions for parents in 3 schools increasing parental engagement and helping to overcome language and social barriers.

Families

Focus on

“I have found the cooking sessions very brilliant as I am cooking with ingredients I don’t normally cook with and I am now buying more fresh ingredients to cook with and I have gained confidence in teaching my children to cook” Parent, Catton Gove Primary School

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Financial Review

Income increased from £537,311 to £699,311

A further £151,126 of income was deferred to 2017 for activity taking place in the second half of the academic year.

2015 2015 20152016 2016 2016

Income Expenditure Reserves

Rebuilding The Charity’s reserves continued to be a priority. Reserves rose from £142,980 to £222,650. Unrestricted reserves rose from £85,791 to £160,821 bringing us in line with our reserves policy.

Expenditure rose from £496,119 to £619,641 in line with increased activity, enhanced leadership, and investment in systems and processes.

£699,311

£537,311

£619,641

£496,119

£222,650

£142,980

Looking ahead

In 2017 we aim to:

• Develop a new three-year Strategic Plan 2018-20

• Raise more income and develop our teams so that we can involve more disadvantaged children in our programmes

• Maintain our focus on quality and impact

• Continue to forge creative and powerful partnerships

• Be responsive to the challenges faced by schools and farmers

• Ensure our infrastructure, processes and practices are fit for purpose

“This generation, more than any other before, will need the environmental awareness and citizenship that is instilled through exploration in childhood.” Green Alliance

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The Country Trust would like to acknowledge the support received from all our funders, including:

• Aldgate and Allhallows Foundation • Alresford Agricultural Show Society*• BASF• Sir John Cass Foundation • Caterlink• The Dulverton Trust • John Ellerman Foundation • Garfield Weston Foundation • The Norwich Town Close Estate Charity • Lance Coates Charitable Trust • New Forest and Hampshire County Show Society* • Openfield• Postcode Community Trust • Westminster Foundation • Yorkshire Agricultural Society • all our regular givers and those who have made

one-off gifts We have also benefitted from over £1,000 of software donations from Microsoft through tt-exchange.

*These funders have made it possible for us to run programmes open to any child in Hampshire.

If you would like to donate to our work, get involved as a host farmer or volunteer, or consider us as a charity partner, please contact us at: The Country Trust, Moulsham Mill, Parkway, Chelmsford, Essex CM2 7PX T 01245 608363 E info@countrytrust.org.uk W countrytrust.org.uk

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The Country Trust is a registered charity no. 1122103 and is a company limited by guarantee registered in England no. 6436266.