How we are funded
The sole trading business operated profitably from 2004 to 2017. The first year of trading as a CCBS was 2017-18. The first offer during that year generated £31,000 in community shares from 140 members.
The Society has fixed assets including two farm vehicles, one livestock trailer, tools, freezers, two wheel rotavator, poly-tunnels, office and kitchen equipment. The cattle and sheep are owned by Spencer Christy and loaned to the Society who are responsible for all aspects of their management. The Society own the chickens and any future purchases of other livestock.
The Society generates income from:
• Conservation work
• Sales of farm produce
• Social farming placements
• Educational programmes
These income streams all have good potential. They support each other through cross subsidisation and enable less dependence on agricultural funding from government. Cross subsidisation is vital for the long term economic stability of the Society as a small farm struggles to make sufficient profit without on farm diversification or off farm income.
Our environmental, social and educational aims are a good fit with the mission of a number of foundations and grant awarding bodies. The Society’s charitable status assists with funding applications as well as enabling the recovery of gift aid from donations. Our good track record of being awarded grants and loans sets us in good stead for further successful applications.
Our market research identified a demand for social farming day placements and there is a lack of supply of such a facility in the Blackwater district. There is an increasing interest in local artisan food, high animal welfare standards, chemical free food and food free from any genetically modified feed or seed. On farm education and outdoor education continues to grow in popularity and interest.
We now have a membership of over 200. The Society is becoming known in the locality and more widely and there is more support for our work now than there was when the Society started.
The Society has fixed assets including two farm vehicles, one livestock trailer, tools, freezers, two wheel rotavator, poly-tunnels, office and kitchen equipment. The cattle and sheep are owned by Spencer Christy and loaned to the Society who are responsible for all aspects of their management. The Society own the chickens and any future purchases of other livestock.
The Society generates income from:
• Conservation work
• Sales of farm produce
• Social farming placements
• Educational programmes
These income streams all have good potential. They support each other through cross subsidisation and enable less dependence on agricultural funding from government. Cross subsidisation is vital for the long term economic stability of the Society as a small farm struggles to make sufficient profit without on farm diversification or off farm income.
Our environmental, social and educational aims are a good fit with the mission of a number of foundations and grant awarding bodies. The Society’s charitable status assists with funding applications as well as enabling the recovery of gift aid from donations. Our good track record of being awarded grants and loans sets us in good stead for further successful applications.
Our market research identified a demand for social farming day placements and there is a lack of supply of such a facility in the Blackwater district. There is an increasing interest in local artisan food, high animal welfare standards, chemical free food and food free from any genetically modified feed or seed. On farm education and outdoor education continues to grow in popularity and interest.
We now have a membership of over 200. The Society is becoming known in the locality and more widely and there is more support for our work now than there was when the Society started.
