About Longmead Community Farm
Our Story
Longmead Community Farm is an independent charity based in the Dorset countryside. Since our beginnings, Longmead has been a place of welcome, care and connection — offering people time, space and support away from the pressures of everyday life.
Set within a rural landscape, Longmead has grown into a community resource that brings people together through shared activity, creativity and connection with nature. Over the years, we have worked alongside children, young people, families and adults facing a wide range of challenges, offering a calm, supportive environment where relationships can be rebuilt and confidence restored.
Longmead’s story is rooted in a simple belief: that meaningful experiences, practical activity and human connection can help people feel stronger, more hopeful and more able to move forward.
Who We Are
Longmead Community Farm is governed by a dedicated Board of Trustees and delivered by a small, committed staff team, supported by skilled facilitators and volunteers.
Our team brings together experience from family support, education, wellbeing, creative practice and land‑based work. We are united by shared values of compassion, inclusion and respect, and by a commitment to working with people rather than doing things to them.
Our trustees provide strategic oversight and governance, ensuring that Longmead remains true to its charitable purpose, financially sustainable and responsive to the needs of the people we serve.
Together, staff, facilitators, volunteers and trustees form a supportive community that makes Longmead a safe and welcoming place for all.
Our Values & Approach
Everything we do at Longmead is guided by a clear set of values and a relational, strengths‑based approach.
We work alongside, not intervene
We believe lasting change happens when people are supported to participate, reflect and grow at their own pace. We do not judge or prescribe solutions — instead, we offer encouragement, practical support and space to explore what works.
We are inclusive and respectful
We welcome people of all backgrounds, abilities and experiences. Our activities are adapted to meet different needs, including those of children and adults with SEND, additional needs or emotional vulnerabilities.
We believe in the power of nature and creativity
Time outdoors, shared practical tasks, music, art and creative expression all play an important role in supporting wellbeing, confidence and connection.
We put safety and wellbeing first
Safeguarding, dignity and emotional safety are central to our work. All staff, facilitators and volunteers follow clear safeguarding procedures and are supported through training and supervision.
Outcomes & Impact
Longmead’s work supports people to experience positive change in ways that are meaningful and sustainable.
Through our programmes and activities, participants often experience:
- Improved emotional wellbeing and reduced anxiety
- Increased confidence, resilience and self‑esteem
- Stronger relationships and communication within families
- Greater social connection and reduced isolation
- A renewed sense of purpose, belonging and hope
Our impact is reflected not only in outcomes, but in the way people describe their time at Longmead — as a place where they feel safe, valued and able to be themselves.
By providing early, relational and preventative support, Longmead helps reduce the need for crisis intervention and supports people to move forward with greater confidence and stability.
Want to learn more?
If you’d like to find out more about our work, explore partnerships, refer someone, or get involved, we’d love to hear from you.