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Working out the finances

Do you want to charge?

  • Be clear about your costs including your time, your staff's time and the use of resources and facilities on site.
  • Decide if you are offering school visits as an activity that supports and enhances other aspects of your farm business and its values or if you intend to make a profit from the visits.
  • Remember that a school which is paying for a visit might have different expectations from one which is coming free of charge.
  • If you are going to charge, think if you can offer an incentive such as discounts for larger groups or multiple bookings.
  • If you don’t want to charge for the whole visit, consider charging only for extra activities such as workshops or cooking activities.
  • Consider the benefit of increased footfall to other aspects of your farm business such as a farm shop, pick-your-own or cafe.
  • Check whether you need to make any amendments to your insurance cover – schools will need a copy of your public liability insurance certificate.
  • Set targets in terms of how many visits you hope to achieve and, if charging, what income they may generate.

How else can you get funding?

  • Some national charities support environmental and education schemes. The Directory of Social Change has information on grant-making trusts for capital projects.
  • Your local Agricultural Society, or other local charities, may have funds for farming/countryside and education initiatives.
  • Local or national companies may help with sponsorship and/or volunteers.
  • If you are in an agri-environment scheme through Natural England you may be eligible for financial support www.gov.uk/countryside-stewardship-grants

This website has been developed thanks to support from the NFU Mutual Charitable Trust.

NFU

Access to Farms
c/o LEAF