In this blog post, Yorkshire Food, Farming and Rural Network Coordinator Holly Jones explains two fantastic training opportunities available for farmers across Yorkshire in May 2023.
It may be a show business cliché to never work with children or animals, but at the Yorkshire Agricultural Society we do both through our educational work to inspire the next generation.
The merits of doing so are clear. For so many children growing up in urban environments, the countryside and what goes on here to produce the food and drink they recognise on shop shelves is largely alien and unseen.
Yet, we know from experience of holding our own educational events for schoolchildren, that being immersed in these topics is fun and fascinating: it’s written all over the children’s faces.
It is within our gift as an industry to make this impact; to fuel imaginations about all things farming, food and the countryside; to inform consumers of the future and perhaps even career choices.
These are things that benefit our industry. Could you play a part too?
CEVAS training
To empower farmers to host safe and impactful visits on their own farms, the Yorkshire Food, Farming and Rural Network at the Yorkshire Agricultural Society is offering heavily discounted access to CEVAS training.
The Countryside Education Visits Accreditation Scheme gives farmers the tools they need to host educational visits, and there are still places available for our forthcoming two-part training course at White Quarry Farm near Tadcaster on 11-12th May.
Normally, a place on this course costs £300 plus VAT but thanks to legacy funding and a subsidy from the Yorkshire Agricultural Society, places are offered to farmers across Yorkshire for £60 plus a booking fee of £5.71.
There are further incentives for taking CEVAS training.
It will give you the platform to be paid to host school trips by third party organisations and charities, as well as qualifying for government payments.
We hope it may even prove to be a gateway for some to get involved with the Yorkshire Agricultural Society’s educational activities, such as hosting a Farm to Fork school trip or a workshop at our popular Countryside Days event each June.
Tango Fawcett, who will host the CEVAS training on her farm, told us why she has been hosting school visits for more than two decades and how CEVAS training has helped.
Tango said:
Hosting school farm visits is so rewarding, it makes me feel happy to share our farm with so many children, knowing that some of the activities will remain as memories for the rest of their lives.
Now, more than ever, helping people understand where their food comes from, and what farmers do to grow it, is so important.
Without correct preparation, it can be worrying having a class of 30 children descend on the farm. I attended one of the first CEVAS training courses.
This gave me tools including drawing up a risk assessment, knowledge, and practical guidance.
I learned how food and farming can be incorporated into the school curriculum, and how to communicate effectively with both teachers and pupils.
Tango added:
Many of the visits I now host are in partnership with The Country Trust, and Leaf, which makes them even easier and more fun.
We are in Countryside Stewardship, and are now paid £318 per visit, for up to 25 visits per year.
With the reduction in BPS, this is going to provide a significant extra income source for the farm.
First Aid for Farmers
The Yorkshire Food, Farming and Rural Network is also offering heavily discounted places on two First Aid for Farmers training sessions at Skipton Auction Mart on 25th May.
The first session will take place between 9am-12.30pm, and a second separate session will be held between 1.30pm-5pm.
Normally priced £100 plus VAT, places on this course are available to farmers across Yorkshire for £20 plus a £2.38 booking fee.
