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Help Keep Deen City Farm Open!

Deen City Farm desperately needs your help.

We are completely amazed and humbled by the speed at which you, the public have helped us reach our initial target! Thank you all so very much for your generous donations.

The more money we are able to raise, the longer we can stay open whilst we work to secure the financial future of the farm. Please do keep donating and sharing our appeal if at all possible.


Sadly, 2024 has been a catastrophic year for Deen City Farm. A major power system failure combined with massively increased costs means we are now struggling to keep afloat and, without your help, we will have to close.

At the beginning of the year, we asked for donations to help us fund the electrical repairs onsite and your amazing donations helped us raise £30,000. However, it has not been enough to cover the rising costs of this problem, and we are once again needing to ask for your help.

Staff and volunteers have worked relentlessly to keep the farm open and maximise our income, but the electrical fault stopped us from running at full capacity for almost 8 months and we incurred substantial extra costs to simply stay open.

Closing is the last resort and we will do whatever it takes to keep our farm gates open for you, but it is now a real possibility.

Closing will mean the local community will lose a vital community asset and the important work we do supporting children and disadvantaged people will come to an end.

Without your help we cannot continue to:

* Welcome over 130,000 visitors annually, mainly families where they can meet and feed the animals, engaging in therapeutic, fun and educational experiences, use the playground or enjoy the garden, free of charge.

* Offer work experience for over 244 students a year, 64% of which have identified as disabled.

* Support volunteer opportunities for over 190 people a year, of those 43% in 2023/24 were unemployed, and 56% identified as individuals with additional needs.

* Host students who have lost their desire or ability to thrive in mainstream education.

* Run mental and physical health and well-being programmes within the local community

* Offer workshops and guided experiences for school children: 1,475 children from 43 different schools benefited in 2023.

Please donate today and share this message to ensure we can remain open for the community.

We are talking openly about our financial position to the people who matter to us the most; the people that use us, value us, support us. We do not want to see another inner-city, free to access community, family and educational space, have to close.

Sadly, we know our situation is not unique. Many charities in the current, challenging, external environment are struggling, but we hope you can really dig deep, see the value Deen City Farm brings to South London, and donate today.

With your support, we can remain open, whilst we review how the Farm can move forwards in a sustainable way. We will do this transparently and in consultation with our community, stakeholders and supporters.

Please donate today and share this message to ensure we can remain open for the community.

THANK YOU!

A message from the chair…

Dear Friends and Supporters,

I would like to start by saying a huge thank you for all of your help and support regarding the power faults that we have had to cope with since the start of the year, hopefully this will be my last letter about the subject. The good news is that the faulty cables have now been replaced. If you have visited the farm recently, you will see there is a new fence running down the service road, with the new electrical cable running through it in a secure conduit.  

The farms team have done a fantastic job in keeping the farm running, despite only having 2/3rd of the power we need, and I am very appreciative of their hard work and dedication.

This was a major electrical fault, not of our making, and it has cost us more than sixty thousand pounds to repair the cables and pay for additional services needed to keep the farm open. In the process of fixing the fault, and getting the farm back to full working order, we have had to use most of our (already limited) cash reserves . We have also had to put several of our other redevelopment projects on hold.

We have already had some really generous donations from our fundraising campaign earlier in the year but we now know the final costs of the repair and still need to find at least another forty thousand pounds to recoup the costs we’ve incurred. We are working with Merton Council and other stakeholders to see what support they could offer, but we need more help to stay open.

There are many ways you can support the farm. If you are able to donate anything at all that would be a tremendous help.  To find out more about other ways you can help visit our support us page on our website: Support Us | Deen City Farm.

We really appreciate any help you can give us at this difficult time, and we look forward to seeing you at the farm soon, especially at Farm Fest on Saturday 31st August. This year’s event will be bigger and better with live music from some fantastic local bands, fair games and activities, crafts, soft play, dancing and a bar for the adults!
 
Many Thanks for taking time to read this letter and for your support of Deen City Farm.
 
Best Regards

Matthew Linden
 

Chair of Deen City Farm & Riding School

Charity Number: 1008028

Urgent Appeal: Update

Dear Friends and Supporters

Urgent Appeal: Help Us Restore Power and Keep Our Farm Running

Earlier in the year I wrote to inform you of the major problems we have had with our power supply and many of you kindly sent us a donation towards fixing this. I’m reaching out once again to share an update on the ongoing challenges we’re facing and to ask for your continued support.

Over the last few months, we have spent some time ensuring we understand the problem and looking at the options for a solution. It is now confirmed that to fix this problem we will have to replace about 150 meters of electric cabling which was installed over 30 years ago, that runs from the other side of the river Wandle to the farm offices. Replacing this cable, along with digging a trench to lay it and updating control boards, comes with a hefty price of approximately £50,000.

Thanks to your generosity, we have managed to raise £23,000 towards this project but we still have a considerable shortfall. While we're exploring avenues for additional support including the power supplier, we anticipate that the bulk of the expense will fall on us.

It's challenging to face such an unexpected hefty financial bill, especially amidst other pressing needs like rising operational costs and necessary security upgrades for our farm perimeter. Your continued support is crucial in helping us overcome these challenges and ensure the smooth functioning of our farm.

If you can help us by donating, it will allow us to get the farm back to its full capacity by mending our electrical problems, as well as letting us complete our other urgent projects and ensure that we continue to welcome our visitors back to the farm every day.

If you're able to contribute, no matter the amount, your donation would make a meaningful difference. You can donate through our JustGiving page.

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We urgently need your help!

Unfortunately, the new year didn’t start very well for Deen City Farm & Riding School as just after Christmas we had a major fault with our electrical supply system. We have tracked the fault down to one of the high-capacity electrical cables that supplies electricity to the farm.  

The good news is we have managed to make temporary repairs, so we are now open again, but we have to replace the faulty cable. This will include running a new high-capacity cable from the UK Power demarcation point to the farm office which includes digging a long trench and routing the cable across the bridge. These are very significant repairs to make, and we are sadly looking at a potential bill of several tens of thousand pounds.  

Winter is an expensive time for us especially as our big animals, the cows, sheep and goats have to spend more time inside and we have to give them a lot more expensive feed, so this is not the best time to have another large bill to pay.  

To help us keep going and to ensure we get all our services back up and running we need your help. Please come and visit us, we are open but can’t run a full service in our café and we are having to use temporary toilets.  

We appreciate this isn’t an easy time of the year for anyone. Whatever you can do to help us is very much appreciated. The fantastic team at Deen City Farm has already worked very hard to get us open and their determination to keep the farm running in the face of one of the most serious issues to affect the farm is fantastic. However without your help we will be struggling, so if you can please help us by making a donation by visiting our just giving page https://www.justgiving.com/dcfarm. 

Many thanks for your time and help it is much appreciated.  

Matt Linden  

Chair of Deen City Farm & Riding School

Charity Number: 1008028

Free Fundraising Ideas!

We know that not everyone one is able to afford to donate so we have some ideas to help you donate to us without any extra cost to you!

  • Shopping: Find us via EasyFundraising and raise money while you shop!
  • Collection Tin: Do you have the perfect location to place one of our collection tins? Please get in touch to find out more. 
  • Fundraising: You could set up an event or activity to raise money for the farm, how about a sponsored abseil or bake sale?
  • Shopping: Find us on Give as you live online and raise money while you shop online!
  • Volunteering: Have you got a few hours spare a week? We have current vacancies with the garden and front of house roles, find out more: Volunteering & Work Experience | Deen City Farm
  • Word of Mouth: Tell everyone about us, all your friends, colleagues and family!
  • Social Media: Follow, share and like our content:

Fundraising Event: Hedgehog Figurine Decorating 

Sunday 2nd October

Very special event being held to raise money for our winter animal shelter appeal!

Join us on Sunday 2ndOctober to paint and take home a specially produced handmade Deen City Farm Hedgehog figure.

All proceeds from this activity will go directly towards providing new paddock shelters for our animals to protect them from the Great British weather!

Activity suitable for adults & children, recommended for ages 5+

£7.50 per Hedgehog, Advanced booking highly recommended. There will also be a selection of additional handmade figurines to purchase on the day, with all proceeds also going towards our shelter appeal. 

Book your tickets here

About our shelter appeal: We are fundraising to replace the 7 large animal shelters in our back fields. The shelters are old, with missing sides & holes in the roof, many of them were also badly damaged during Storm Eunice earlier in the year. We need to raise £5800 to replace all 7 and provide shelter from the Great British Weather for our animals. Thank you for your support. 

We are recruiting Trustees!

The Trustees wish to appoint a number of new volunteer trustees to help support the long term development of the Farm.

Commitment:

The Board meets every other month, and Trustees would additionally be expected to spend a day, roughly every 3 months volunteering onsite or attending events and supporting fundraising activities. 

Main duties and responsibilities include:

  • Ensuring that Deen City Farm complies with its articles of association, charitable objectives and charity law.
  • Maintaining overall financial control and stability of the farm, ensuring that funds are spent appropriately and in line with our charitable objectives.
  • Assisting the management team with tasks as appropriate to your skills and experiences.
  • Contributing to the strategic direction of the organisation alongside the rest of the Board of Trustees and General Manager.
  • Input into and approve internal policies and procedures alongside the General Manager.
  • Safeguard the good name and values of Deen City Farm & Riding School.

Personal Specification:

  • An understanding and acceptance of the legal duties, responsibilities and liabilities of trusteeship.
  • Good independent judgment
  • Strong communication
  • Friendly and approachable
  • Knowledge of and interest in animals and community farms is desirable.
  • Candidates who are local are desirable, but it is essential that you are able to travel to the farm for meetings, events and the odd day of volunteering.
  • We are particularly looking to recruit trustees who have education, building management, fundraising, equestrian or human resources experience/knowledge

To apply:  

For more information on being a trustee or to apply please contact Henry Nelless, Chair of Trustees, on chair@deencityfarm.co.uk 

For a tour of the farm or information on the our work please contact Emma King, General Manager, on manager@deencityfarm.co.uk

2023 Calendar competition!

Next year will mark 45 years since Deen City Farm first opened its doors back in 1978.  To celebrate this milestone, we are launching a Photography Competition ahead of our big celebrations in 2023.  

The competition is looking for 12 very special photos to feature in a commemorative 2023 calendar.

We would love to see a variety of photos from the last four and a half decades of the farm. The photos can feature animals, the farm in general and/or people, but please ensure you have permission to submit your photo from any identifiable individuals in your entry.  

The 12 lucky winners will have their photos featured and credited in the calendar and also receive a free copy when the calendar is launched later this year.  

When entering a photograph, please provide your name, contact details including an email address and tell us the story behind your photograph, including when & where it was taken.  

To Enter: photographs can be sent via email to information@deencityfarm.co.uk, with email subject: ‘Calendar Competition 2023’ or via post – please mark for the attention of ‘Calendar Competition 2023’.  

Please don’t send original photos as we will not be able to return them. Photos must be of good quality to print. By entering, you are confirming that you agree with the competition’s terms and conditions (found below) and provide consent for the photograph to be used in our calendar or during our 2023 celebrations.  

We look forward to receiving your entries, good luck!  

Photography Competitions Terms and Conditions:  

The competition is to have a photograph featured in the Deen City Farm & Riding School Commemorative Calendar 2023.  

Entrants are responsible for ensuring they have read and understood the terms and conditions and requirements for photos. Any entry found not to comply will be disqualified.  

Eligibility & requirements:  

  1. The competition is free to enter and open to everyone of all ages, including Professional Photographers. A maximum of 2 entries per person is permitted.  
  2. Images entered into the competition must not have previously been offered for sale, featured in paid publications, won or been runner-up in any other photography or calendar competition.  
  3. Entries will not be returned, once the winners have been decided all other entries will be destroyed along with entrance details in accordance with GDPR. 
  4. Photographs can be entered by email addressed to ‘Calendar Competition 2023’ to information@deencityfarm.co.uk or via Post; ‘Calendar Competition 2023’ Deen City Farm & Riding School, 39 Windsor Avenue, London, SW19 2RR.  
  5. Physical copy photographs should be no smaller than 7x5 inches and no larger than an A4 piece of paper.  
  6. Electronic copy photographs should be submitted as JPEGs or PDF and be no larger than 10MB. Files larger than this may be rejected by our email server.  
  7. When entering a photograph, please provide your name, contact details including an email address and tell us the story behind your photograph, including when & where it was taken.  

Subject: 

  1. Photographs must have been taken at Deen City Farm & Riding School, either at the Aberdeen Road site between 1978 - 1980, Batsworth Road 1980 - 1994 or at the current Windsor Avenue site.  
  2. You must have permission to submit your photo from all identifiable individuals featured before entering the competition.  
  3. Do not do anything to injure or distress animals or cause damage to the environment when taking photographs. Any photos deemed to be in breach of this will be disqualified immediately.  

Judging, notification, and contact:  

  1. Deen City Farm will appoint judges to choose the winning entries. The organiser’s decision on all matters relating to the competition is final, and no correspondence will be entered into concerning the judging and organisation of the competition.  
  2. The competition closing date is Midnight on Monday 8th August 2022.   
  3. The winners will be announced on Deen City Farm’s social media and also  

    contacted directly via email no later than Wednesday 7th September 2022. 

  4. The prize for the winners of the competition is to have their photograph featured in the calendar and one copy of the calendar when it is published. There is no substitute prize available, financial reward or cash alternative. The winners must also agree for their photograph to be displayed at Deen City Farm, during the 45 year anniversary celebrations. 

Disclaimer: 

  1. The organiser’s reserve the right to cancel the competition at any stage, if deemed necessary or due to unforeseen circumstances out of the organiser’s control. The organisers reserve the right to remove a winner’s entry from the final calendar if they are found to be in breach of the terms and conditions at any time.  

Please help replace our animal shelters

Please help us to replace the seven large animal shelters in our back field's. The shelters are currently old, with holes in the roofs and no sides. New weather proof shelters will provide much needed protection from the Great British weather.

Our animals are the main focus of all our activities, and we would like to give them the best possible accommodation, making sure they are comfortable and protected.

We have a selection of larger animals including our miniature donkeys, Mackenzie and McCoy, our flock of Zwartbles sheep and our selection of goats including, Jet the Anglo-Nubian. At night they all have warm and cosy shelters in our yard, during the day they graze out in the paddocks.

A covered shelter is important both on hot days for shade and during cold/winter days to protect them from the wind and rain.

At the moment, the shelters in the back fields desperately need to be replaced: they are old, they do not have sides and the roofs leak. To make matters worse two of the shelters lost part of their roofs due to Storm Eunice.

The fields are very exposed and replacing the shelters with ones that have three sides will provide a dry space in rain, shade in the sun and warmth in the cold to make their enclosures more welcoming and fit for purpose.

Our fundraising target of £5800 will buy the raw materials for our onsite team to craft the new structures. The seven shelters will be built with a strong timber framework and clad in shatterproof recycled plastic eco sheets.

Please donate today to help us continue to provide the best possible environment for our beautiful animals.