Charity farm launches fundraising bid to expand

Director of Hope Farm, Mahesh Hettiarachchi, said it was fundraising to provide services for more people

A charity supporting families and vulnerable adults facing food poverty will expand its work by developing its farm.

Hope Against Poverty wants to raise £30,000 to make its 4.5-acre farm more accessible to more people in South Cambridgeshire.

Hope Farm in Girton grows fruits and vegetables for its food hubs, as well as helping people to improve their mental health and gardening skills.

"It's not just about growing food - it's about growing opportunity, confidence, and connection. Every seed we plant here is a step towards a fairer, greener future," said Mahesh Hettiarachchi, founder and director of Hope Against Poverty.

The farm is based at Girton and needs a better water and electricity supply, said organisers

The project will offer inclusive volunteering opportunities, Send-friendly outdoor sessions, and nature-based wellbeing activities, while championing low-carbon, sustainable food production.

"Hope Farm represents what can happen when community and compassion come together," said Mr Hettiarachchi, who is also a winner of a BBC Make a Difference Award.

The charity was founded in 2020 during the pandemic following a tragedy in Mr Hettiarachchi's life. It led him to set up the organisation, and he began by supplying food to Cambourne residents.

The organisation now has 30 staff and volunteers working and delivering food parcels to people in 40 villages.

The charity is fundraising to get better facilities for the 400 over-60s who visit the farm, as well as a "proper water system" and electricity supply, and to improve accessibility for people using wheelchairs.

"We have come to a certain stage now, because of the demand, we need to go beyond that," said Mr Hettiarachchi.

Intern Tomas Mountain runs the outdoor classroom and space for public use

The farm has an outdoor space for team-building sessions, corporate events and coaching sessions.

Tomas Mountain is an intern at the farm and is responsible for grant applications and helps with Hope Active sessions.

"It's like a woodland school that we have going on here - We have Send children and we do sessions with them," said Mr Mountain.

"We have something called Hope Active, which we go out around South Cambridgeshire and Huntingdonshire to get people over the age of 60 out and involved, mobile to help combat isolation, and we bring them up to the farm as well."

Louise became a volunteer at Hope Farm after being helped by the charity when she became ill

Louise was encouraged to visit the farm's cafe after her health deteriorated and she had to give up work.

"It gets me out in the fresh air as well rather than being stuck in four walls," she said.

"I feel like my confidence has now got back up to where it was before."

As a result, she has signed up as a volunteer "to give back and start helping other people".

The charity is being supported by Aviva, which will match-fund all donations.

Hope Farm grows a range of produce which goes to its food hubs for vulnerable people