Backbone of Britain: Blenheim Palace links with farming charity to welcome disabled adults to industry

Team

There is a sound relationship between Raul, Charles and Richard too, with Raul confiding he has felt ‘personally overwhelmed by how good the guys at Blenheim have been.’

And each is keen to change the perception of employment of people with disabilities.

Charles says: “To be on the sidelines when the team is here, to hear the laughter and the fun and to know they are achieving something, it fills your heart. They are enjoying themselves, but you can see they are gaining from it as well.

“Raul knows their capabilities and who can do what but, among the team, they can do it all.”

The type of work carried out varies across the year to include maintenance, mucking out pens, walking the sheep out into the fields and working on various small building projects.

But both Charles and Richard are not blindsided by the group’s disabilities, ensuring anyone helping out on the estate gets to give everything and anything a go.

They even have one co-farmer, Jacob Woodley, 21 who, although he was born with cerebral palsy, leaves his walking aid at the farm gate, motivated by the support and encouragement all three have given him.

Jacob says: “I thought the work would be too hard because of my cerebral palsy, but now I feel excited about working at Blenheim – I can go to work like other people who are not disabled. I look forward to each week and it shows others that disabled people can work too.”

They have also all impressed Richard, who is in awe of their problem-solving abilities.

He has witnessed them, he says, do things in a way you would normally never think of because they have to think outside the box.

The FarmAbility group visits Blenheim once a week and Raul wants the farming industry to lead the way in highlighting the advantages of welcoming people with learning disabilities into the workplace.

He says: “Farming offers great opportunities to people facing challenges and this model could open more eyes and minds to the idea.

“As a culture, we have a tendency to say this is how it should be, but I say, let’s work with who you are. The thing with the animals, too, is they don’t judge. Humans may see someone with a disability and try to be polite, but they are still staring. Here, there are no conditions or questions.

“That is one beauty that care farming offers people as well – the timing of farming, the patience. You don’t plant a seed and in a couple of hours it becomes a crop.”

Experience

All three are heavily invested in the project but, for Charles, it lies closer to home.

Charles’ three children all suffer from some form of myotonic dystrophy, a long-term genetic disorder that affects muscle function.

He says: “It is about ability, not disability.

“My children all have some form of learning disability which has affected them in different ways, so I know what it is like first hand to have young people who need a bit of help.

“But it is also about creating a community again, like farming was. And to be inclusive.”

And it seems to have come full circle for Charles too, who is thrilled to see his son, Will, 23, become a volunteer with FarmAbility.

But the work will continue, as the charity continues to spread its inspirational message.

Raul says: “My dream is there would be places like Blenheim all over the world and that we’d see more of our guys move into employment and apprenticeships. This really is a powerful thing.”