St James St William’s ten-year partnership with Vauxhall City Farm has had a significant impact on the local area. Together, they’ve re-developed the farm’s visitor space into a new classroom and created a café and office space, greatly enhancing the local facilities for the community.
Established in 1977, Vauxhall City Farm is one of the oldest city farms in London. It gives the local community in Lambeth an opportunity to engage with nature and animals, providing educational, recreational and therapeutic programmes and activities for all.
Since the beginning of the partnership in 2014, staff at St James St William London South have raised over £113,000. This contribution has provided unrestricted funding for the farm, allowing them to spend the money where it is most needed.
In addition, Berkeley Foundation has made a number of grants to help the farm mitigate the Covid pandemic and the cost of living crisis, which has had significant and lasting impact on it as a visitor attraction. In total, over £300,000 has been committed to the farm and such financial support has been crucial for helping with the day-to-day running of the organisation and contributing to safeguarding it for the future.
The partnership has also benefited colleagues at St James St William London South, as well as the wider Berkeley Group. Vauxhall City Farm has offered teams across the business a chance to spend the day volunteering, which has boosted staff morale, fostered team-building, and provided a meaningful way for colleagues to engage with the community - not to mention the feel-good factor of hanging out with Rolo the alpaca! Feedback from volunteers, includes:
“It was great to volunteer for a charity that felt very different from the others on offer. It was also great to connect with other teams from the region and meet others from different divisions.”
“The animals are adorable and my heart melts for them! Thank you.”
In addition to funding, Berkeley has contributed time and skills, including upgrading the perimeter fencing and pathways, painting, general maintenance, and recycling site materials in the gardens.
Vauxhall City Farm runs a number of educational programmes and activities for local children, as well as employability-based programmes for young people who are not in education, employment or training. Through its New Shoots Employability Programme, Berkeley was thrilled to be able to support a local young person into a fully funded CSCS course delivered with the Construction Youth Trust. The young person is now heading towards a plumbing apprenticeship with a sub-contractor.
It may be the end of the Berkeley Foundation partnership, but Vauxhall City Farm will remain an important part of Berkeley Group’s community engagement in Lambeth.