Music festival funds farm housing refugees

The festival is a major source of income for the farm

A farm that houses refugee families has said a music festival it hosts on site is essential to its funding.

Farmfest is a guitar-based alternative music festival run by the group Catholic Worker Farm on Lynsters Farm in Rickmansworth, Hertfordshire.

Scott Albrecht lives on the site with his wife, a team of volunteers and 18 women and children, who are homeless or asylum seekers.

"I think it's hugely important and it's not just looking at this year, it's looking at the future. We want it to become bigger," he said.

While living at the farm, the women receive English lessons, therapy and assistance with solicitors to help them put asylum claims into the Home Office.

Since 2006 about 750 women and children, including Ukrainian refugees and women who were previously homeless, have stayed on the farm.

The farm is funded by donations, grants and proceeds from the festival, which has taken place since 2009.

Mr Albrecht said: "All the money that comes in is is dedicated to paying off our bills, essentially."

He explained the group claimed no government funding or benefits and required about £70,000 each year to run.

'Can't do Glastonbury'

Last year the festival raised £12,500 but organisers have aspirations to raise more money.

Mr Albrecht said: "Obviously we can't do Glastonbury here, but we can certainly handle about 300 or 400 people.

"Right now, currently we've got about 200 coming. If we can double that, then the money from the festival could come in at around £25,000 and that could be a third of our income."

The event, which will take place between 22 and 25 August, is curated by Mr Albrecht's son Francis.

This year the lineup includes Hertfordshire-based metal act PEST and other acts such as Unlucky, Millie Turner, The Slow Country and English Garden.