Tag: LOVE Learning

Crisis: Gorgie Farm faces closure again

FUTURE OF POPULAR LEARNING CENTRE IN DOUBT

Love Learning released the following statement yesterday:

So sorry to release this folks 😞

Love to withdraw from Gorgie Farm

Love Learning have regrettably announced that their intention to return the lease on Gorgie Farm to the City of Edinburgh Council. Love will begin a period of formal consultation with staff on 4 January 2023.

Love CEO, Lynn Bell, said: “We have tried everything to avoid this situation, however with Covid and now cost of living crisis we do not believe we are able to support the Farm alone moving forward.”

CEC funding for the Farm was withdrawn in 2020 and over recent months Love have been seeking detailed discussions with City of Edinburgh Council over funding and the future operations of the Farm. Love have developed a plan for the Farm, based on the development of a Care Farm and utilising buildings on the Farm for respite accommodation for Looked After Children.

However, on preparation of the Love Learning 2021-22 accounts it became clear that Love was not able to take this forward without assistance.

Lynn added: “The support for Gorgie Farm from the public has been tremendous, and I would like to thank every single person who has supported the Farm over the last few years. Gorgie Farm is unique, and it has the potential to deliver so much for so many.

“We know that changes could be made to raise funds and support wider Council objectives around looked after children and tackling poverty, but we are not able to take this proposal forward unaided.

“A partnership approach has always been central to our plans, but this partnership has not materialised. While we have had many positive individual conversations ultimately there is a need for detailed discussions and agreements to allow the redesign of the Farms operations to meet wider needs.”

Edinburgh Greens have pledged to work for sustainable future for Gorgie Farm.

The much-loved local community farm in Edinburgh has announced that they plan to hand their lease back to Edinburgh City Council when it comes to an end.

Gorgie Farm has been run by ‘LOVE Learning’ since the previous long-term owners entered financial difficulties in late 2019.

Since reopening in early 2020, LOVE Gorgie Farm has become a community hub with programmes for local people to connect, and a young people to learn.

Gorgie Green Councillor Dan Heap said: “After 50 years of operation, Gorgie Farm is an integral part of the Gorgie community, and it is impossible to imagine Gorgie without the fun, life and incredible services the Farm brings the area.

“I think it is absolutely possible we can find a sustainable model for the Farm, and it is vital that all partners, including the City of Edinburgh Council, work together to achieve this.

“I will be working closely with them to ensure this happens.”

Lothian Green MSP, Lorna Slater said: “I am sorry to hear that Gorgie Farm is facing closure.

“It was a pleasure to have visited the farm in September and to hear about the exciting future plans that had been set out for this much-loved community farm.

“When the farm was threatened with closure in 2019, Green MSPs and Councillors were at the heart of the campaign to save it. I will work closely with local councillor Dan Heap and all partners involved in the farm and do everything I can to help in ensuring that it can have a sustainable future.”

Local author generously donates book royalties to charity

A generous Edinburgh author has committed to donating royalties from her latest book to a leading education and social care charity.

Debbie Irving, who was born and raised in Edinburgh, has published her book, ‘My Brother is Different’, the royalties of which will be donated to LOVE learning.

This book is aimed at children with brothers and sisters who have autism, as a tool for them to better understand and explain why their siblings and other children might behave differently to them.

The picture book tells the story of how a brother and sister discover that their little brother’s autism can be difficult for them at school, but with some help from their mother, they realise that he is special in a good way too.

Written with experts on children’s mental health, ‘My Brother is Different’ is a way to help young children cope with autism and the effects it can have on their family and friends.

It has been estimated that more than 50,000 people in Scotland have an autism spectrum disorder. 1

Debbie, who is currently the Head of HR for an engineering company based in Fife, worked at Edinburgh City Libraries for nearly 18 years. She was inspired to write her book after a personal experience that took place two years ago when she went passed a school’s playground.

Debbie witnessed a young boy with autism experiencing a breakdown and was surprised by the looks of confusion in the faces of the other children, who did not understand what was happening to their friend.

Debbie who is a trustee of LOVE Learning has partnered with the charity to illustrate and print the book and has decided to donate all royalties in full to help with fundraising. The charity, which acquired Edinburgh’s much-loved LOVE Gorgie Farm, works to provide alternative education and social care for children with mental health problems and learning difficulties.

Debbie Irving and LOVE Learning intend to continue releasing several books for children, from short stories to novels, on themes concerning mental health, additional learning needs and the changes children go through as they grow up.

Debbie Irving, local author of ‘My Brother is Different’ commented: “I am thrilled to see a project like this book take off and I truly hope that ‘My Brother is Different’ serves as a tool to help many children understand more about autism and about what their sibling and friends with this condition go through.

“LOVE learning has been incredibly supportive during the whole process and I decided to donate all royalties to this charity so that the book can contribute to their mission of helping give children the best possible start in life.”

Lynn Bell, CEO of LOVE learning added: “We are so grateful that Debbie decided to so generously donate the royalties of her book to LOVE learning and look forward to keeping supporting her in her future work.

“Too often we see children with autism facing exclusion in many social and educational settings. We believe that ’My Brother is Different’ is a great educational tool for children to better understand autism and help harness love and compassion amongst siblings and friends.”

‘My Brother is Different’ can currently be purchased online as hard copy on LOVE Learning website and as an e-book on Amazon. 

Gail digs deep for LOVE Gorgie Farm

Gail Porter met staff and volunteers to help out yesterday in advance of LOVE Gorgie Farm reopening on 29th February. Edinburgh-born Gail, like many, has fond childhood memories of the farm. 

A call for volunteers was issued earlier this month to assist in bringing the former Gorgie City Farm back to life, ahead of the farm re-opening its doors to the public as LOVE Gorgie Farm on Saturday 29th February.

LOVE Learning, an education and social care charity that supports vulnerable children, young people and adults by using innovative ways to engage them in learning. It announced it was taking over the city farm in January after the farm went into liquidation in November 2019.

Gail said: “It was a pleasure to meet Lynn, the new team at LOVE Gorgie Farm and the volunteers, all of whom are working so hard to bring the farm back to life.

“Like many people in Edinburgh and Scotland, I was saddened to see Gorgie City Farm go into liquidation last year after having made so many memories in the farm as a child.

“I am very happy that a charity like LOVE Learning decided to take over it and can’t wait to see LOVE Gorgie Farm reopen again.”

Lynn Bell, CEO of LOVE Learning said: “We are delighted to have welcomed Gail into the farm ahead of our grand reopening and glad to have learnt how much the site meant to her.

“We know how treasured and important the farm was the community and we want to bring this back to the people of Edinburgh as soon as possible.

“We are overwhelmed with the positive support LOVE Gorgie Farm has received from everyone since we announced we were taking over it last month. We are still looking for volunteers to come next weekend as there is a lot of work to get done prior to opening the farm doors on the 29th of February.”

Interested volunteers can still help on Saturday 22nd and Sunday 23rd February and those looking to do so should email Gorgie@l-o-v-e.org.uk

Volunteers needed to bring LOVE back to Gorgie Farm!

The new folk at Gorgie City Farm are seeking volunteers to assist in bringing the popular visitor destination back to life, ahead of the farm opening its doors again to the public as LOVE Gorgie Farm on Saturday 29th February. 

LOVE Learning, an education and social care charity that supports vulnerable individuals by using innovative ways to engage them in learning, announced it was taking over the city farm in January after the farm went into liquidation in 2019. 

The charity is now looking for volunteers to help prepare the site in time for its official opening date at the end of the month. Activities for the volunteers will consist of organising and tidying up the site to make it presentable and safe for both the public and the animals. 

Volunteer days will take place from 10 am – 3:30 pm over the course of the next two weekends: 15th, 16th and 22nd, 23rd of February. Volunteers do not have to stay the whole day, even an hour would be great. 

After the site opens its doors to the public it will remain open 7 days a week and will be free for visitors. LOVE Learning intends to keep using the site as a city farm as part of their portfolio of environmental projects. 

In addition, LOVE Gorgie Farm will procure educational services to vulnerable children through animal and forest therapy.

It will also provide a range of professional apprenticeships and Scottish Qualifications Authority awarded qualifications, as well as organise social prescribing and wellbeing therapies in partnership with the NHS.

Lynn Bell, CEO of LOVE Learning, said: “We are delighted to have taken responsibility for Gorgie City Farm. LOVE Learning know how treasured and important the site is for the community and we want to bring this back to the people of Edinburgh as soon as possible. 

“We are asking anyone that might have been involved with Gorgie City Farm in the past, may have a fond childhood memory of the farm or that simply wants to come and give us a hand to contact us ahead of the opening. 

“There is a lot of work to get done prior to opening the farm doors on the 29th of February and the local community, businesses and volunteers will be key for the farm to thrive and achieve its full potential. 

“After we get the farm up and running on the 29th we will put in place volunteer activities for those looking to continue to be involved with our LOVE Gorgie Farm project going forward.” 

Volunteers are advised to bring lunch and wear old clothes and mud resistant boots!

Anyone looking to volunteer should contact LOVE Learning at

 Gorgie@l-o-v-e.org.uk

New operator for Gorgie City Farm

LOVE learning, a charity that supports vulnerable individuals using ways to innovative ways to engage them in learning, is to take over the City of Edinburgh Council site previously occupied by Gorgie City Farm, which went into liquidation in November last year.

The new operation will be known as LOVE Gorgie.

Lynn Bell, CEO of LOVE learning said: “We are incredibly excited to be taking on such a treasured resource as Gorgie City Farm. At LOVE learning we seek to improve the education and life chances of vulnerable children, young people and adults, as well as their families.

“Not only will the farm remain open seven days a week and remain free, but we will provide a range of exciting education, environmental and social care programmes supporting vulnerable children and adults.

“This will include learning programmes within a newly-established skills academy, social prescribing, animal therapy and employability projects.

“In addition, our educational centre will engage with local communities on environmental programmes around farming and food production and our intention is to have a food bank and social enterprise café. It will be a real community hub.

“We would like to commend the massive community support and fully recognise the love there clearly is for Gorgie City Farm. We cannot wait to get in and to work with the Council and other key stakeholders to get it up and running.”

Liquidator Shona Campbell of MHA Henderson Loggie led the search for a new operator for the site on behalf of City of Edinburgh Council. 

Shona Campbell said: “I am pleased to have secured such a positive outcome for Gorgie City Farm. As well as financial security we were looking for an operator with the vision and experience to breathe new life into the site and uphold the values treasured by the community.

“As liquidator I have been responsible for the continuing welfare of the animals on site throughout the search period and I am very grateful to the retained staff for all their support. I wish Love Learning every success for the future.”

Council Leader Adam McVey said: “I’m delighted that there has been such a successful outcome for the future of this much-loved community asset.

“LOVE learning’s proposal meets the community’s aspirations for what continues on the site – free for families to visit, open seven days a week and supporting and providing opportunities for vulnerable young people and adults.

“It buys into the values of volunteering, education, farming, supporting everyone in our communities as well as providing a sustainable and financially secure future for the site.

“When the farm closed in November, I know many people worried this would be the end of such a unique venue. However, I’ve been hugely grateful for the outpouring of support and for everyone who has rallied round to get the farm back for our city.

“I would like to put on record my thanks for all the hard work Shona and her team have put in over the past few months to reaching this great outcome. We’re really looking forward to working with Love Learning in providing a fantastic facility for everyone to enjoy.”