Charity begins at home - Vana Trust in the UK

Background to why we set up Vana Organic Therapeutic Farm

In the year 2000, I read an article about how working the earth, for example gardening, healed adults with emotional and mental health difficulties, and I thought this idea might work for children. This was my own experience of taking out some children in London to my personal allotment. I thought children and young people with emotional and behavioural difficulties might be helped with this form of therapy.

In July 2003 I moved from London to a house with seven acres on the border of Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire. I visited the nearby Bridewell Organic Gardens, which was set up by Paul Tompkinson. Following this I really formulated my idea that a therapeutic farm was a worthwhile project in relation to children.  About this time, Bridewell appointed Jenny Tricker and Sue Taylor,