Minister announces Social Farming Capital Grant Awards of over £120,000
Date published:
DAERA Minister Andrew Muir MLA has today announced his Department’s 2025-2026 Social Farming Capital Grant Scheme has awarded over £120,000 in grant aid to 15 eligible Social Farms across Northern Ireland.
Social Farming Capital Grants of between £1,000 and £10,000 were available to farmers currently involved or planning to be involved in Social Farming to adapt their facilities and improve accessibility with the aim of enhancing the experience for Social Farming participants and developing the Social Farm enterprise.
Commenting, Minister Muir said: “I am delighted to be able to announce that fifteen farms across Northern Ireland have been supported with grants, awarding just over £120,000 to help them improve their facilities for the practice of social farming."
Minister Muir continued: “Support for developing Social Farming through the provision of the Social Farming Capital Grant Scheme is an extremely good fit within my Department’s Tackling Rural Poverty and Social Isolation Framework, with the scheme benefitting some of the most disadvantaged in society. Social Farming is a creative and inclusive approach to agriculture that supports therapy, rehabilitation, and social inclusion. It also offers an alternative to traditional day services for individuals with disabilities and learning difficulties, where participants engage in everyday farming activities within a non-clinical, supportive setting.”
Minister Muir added: “The benefits to the many participants availing weekly of Social Farming opportunities include enhanced mood, increased motivation and confidence, development of practical skills, improved physical health, and stronger social connections. Activities that are undertaken are part of the farm’s regular routine, structured by the farmer but shaped by participant input. Seasonal tasks add variety and allow involvement in longer-term projects throughout the farming year. I would encourage anyone interested in delivering Social Farming across Northern Ireland to visit the Rural Support website for more information.”
The scheme is delivered by DAERA who have funded the Social Farming Support Service, which has been delivered by Rural Support, since 2015. Since 2016, the Social Farming Capital Grant Scheme has provided £235,000 to improve facilities and enhance accessibility at Social Farms and to support the growth of Social Farm enterprises.
Notes to editors:
- The Social Farming Capital Grant Scheme is funded through the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs Tackling Rural Poverty and Social Isolation Framework.
- Social Farming is a creative and inclusive approach to agriculture that supports the therapy, rehabilitation, and social inclusion of Social Farming participants.
- Primrose Cottage Social Farm currently provides one Social Farming session for two individuals each week.
- The Social Farming Support Service for Northern Ireland which has been in place since 2015 is delivered on DAERA’s behalf by the Rural Support Charity based in Cookstown.
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