Vauxhall City Farm appeals for £600k in donations to secure its future

By Charlie Parry

A city farm which provides a space for underprivileged and disabled children has set a hefty fundraising goal of £600,000 to secure its future.

Vauxhall City Farm, in Tyers Street, Vauxhall, has recently reopened to the public following lockdown, but being closed for so long meant missing out on 80 per cent of its income.

The farm began as a small community project 43 years ago, and has grown ever since, now offering educational workshops linked to the national curriculum.

The farm hosts more than 100 animals, from pigs to ponies and alpacas, as well as a community garden where a variety of vegetables are grown.

It costs £600,000 a year to operate, and now needs to raise this money through donations to remain afloat.

Chief executive Monica Tyler said: “When we’re closed like this it costs £30,000 a month to run the farm, and £50,000 a month when we’re opened.

“So far, online we’ve generated around £160,000 and probably another £40,000 offline as well.

“We’re very grateful that many residents and people beyond Lambeth have done a number of fundraising activities to help us.”

Abseiling, head shaves and cake making are just some of the initiatives on the farm’s list of fundraising ideas that it hopes will inspire the public to help it reach its goal.

One resident ran a sponsored step-a-thon which brought his neighbours out on the street for half an hour of exercise, raising £7,500 for the cause. And the farm’s own Alpacas even did their bit with a sponsored walk.

Despite its plight, the farm has not let up on serving the community. A summer programme for local underprivileged children has been launched which offers free meals and activities on the farm.

The children can experience life as a farmer, with classes on grooming and feeding the animals, and how to grow vegetables.

Such community work had been put in jeopardy by lockdown, with all educational workshops cancelled including the farm’s horse riding school for autistic children.

Although the future of the farm is uncertain, it is adapting to the crisis, and even looking to expand.

The farm has launched Vauxhall Farm TV, to educate virtually, and give more of an insight into the farm, as well as the animals that live there, such as the three alpacas Tom, Ben, and Jerry, who featured in Star Wars: The Force Awakens.

“We also want to continue growing our new community garden for everyone to enjoy and as a way of generating additional income.” Tyler said.

“We will be able to make things like chutney and rhubarb pies, which we hope to sell in our cafe. We might even make our own wine.”

You can donate to the farm here.

Photo: Dana Mendonca, Lapdog Photo Productions