Posted on Monday 28th July 2025
(L-R) Learners Melchizedek Canlas and Lizzie Melson
A Stafford-based community farm is celebrating ten years of supporting adults of all ages to tackle life’s ups and downs.
A Stafford-based community farm is celebrating ten years of supporting adults of all ages to tackle life’s ups and downs.
Upper Moreton Rural Activities Farm in Wolseley Bridge has so far supported more than 1,000 people with mental health challenges, neurodiversity and learning disabilities. The organisation helps people to gain self-confidence and skills through rural wellbeing and skills activities.
Supported by Staffordshire County Council’s Community Learning Service, the farm promotes independence, emotional resilience and transferable work-based skills when people are facing some of the most difficult times of their lives.
Staffordshire resident Lizzie Melson started going to the farm in January after her partner died suddenly, leading to debilitating anxiety that stopped her leaving the house.
Lizzie said:
“I’ve always struggled with self-confidence and when my partner died traumatically, I was diagnosed with PTSD.
“I just couldn’t get out of bed, but thanks to the non-judgemental environment at the farm and spending time in nature, I stopped blaming myself for his death and started to heal. Six months on, I’m now going to Rodbaston College in September to get the qualification I need to get on a Paramedic Science course.
“I was in such a dark place seven months ago that I would never have thought I’d be able to get back out into the real world, let alone start learning to be a paramedic. The farm has been a big part of that.”
Carol Carney, who runs the service, said:
“I think the greatest achievement is that the people that come here get a lot out of coming here. I am really humbled and proud to see people come and make their journey.
“Everybody has got some sort of skill or talent that's there and it's giving them that confidence to do something and realise in themselves that they can do it.”
Martin Murray, Staffordshire County Council’s Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Economy and Skills, said:
“Our Community Learning programme and our providers, like Upper Moreton Farm, make a huge difference to people’s lives.
“It gives people like Lizzie the opportunity to rebuild their lives in a way that grows their confidence to learn, earn and get back to realising their potential; just at a time when it feels impossible to keep going. We’re proud to invest in people’s futures through Community Learning.”
People can find out more about the Community Learning courses here: Course Information - Staffordshire County Council.