Cross border project aims to boost social inclusion among communities

Authorities in the Republic and in Northern Ireland have launched a Social Farming Across Borders project to enhance social inclusion among communities.

The initiative was formally launched yesterday in Loughry College in Cookstown, Co Tyrone, by the South’s Minister of State Fergus O’Dowd and the North’s Agriculture and Rural Development Minister Michelle O’Neill. The project will link the healthcare and agriculture sectors to establish a novel social support service for people that use health and social services.

Mr O’Neill said: “We understand how experiencing farming at first hand, combined with physical activity has been shown to help a broad range of vulnerable people suffering from mental health problems, physical and learning disabilities and drug or alcohol addiction.”