Abberley Care Farm founder receives British Citizen Award

Claire Furness set up Abberley Care Farm from her smallholding near Stourport in 2009 to support and teach some of the most vulnerable and hardest to reach youngsters in Worcestershire.

The farm is an alternative provision, offering animal assisted intervention to support young people aged seven to 25, many with special needs, ASD and high anxiety, to access education.

Claire Furness set up Abberley Care Farm to support and teach youngsters with special education needs

When a young person from the gypsy/traveller community was referred to the farm, unable to focus in school, Claire engaged with him, showing him maths and English in a practical setting, such as weighing the animals and working out their feed.

Claire nurtured the youngster over the course of six years and on into college.

Another pupil presented selectively mute for six months, but after eight weeks of encouragement by Claire, she began to speak.

Two years on, she is attending mainstream school and is starting to chat freely with friends and teachers.

Claire is so committed to teaching that she keeps in touch with every single pupil who has attended the farm.

Claire Furness' British Citizen Award for services to education

She prepares them for the real world by helping them to find the way of learning which suits them, builds self-esteem and gives them confidence.

On receiving the British Citizen Award, Claire said: "I am slightly embarrassed but truly honoured that so many of my students and parents decided to nominate me for my work.

"Abberley Care farm is only a small alternative provision but the aim is to really make a difference to the children referred to us through animal assisted intervention to help them overcome barriers to life and learning."

Claire is one of 27 extraordinary people from across the UK to be recognised with the award.

Due to the current lockdown, the usual grand medal presentation ceremony at the Palace of Westminster is unable to take place.

For only the second time in the awards' history, the medallists received their accolades by courier, together with a video message of congratulations and an invitation to the House of Lords at a date yet to be confirmed.

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Messages of support were sent via video from TV personalities Michael Underwood, Matt Allwright, Tim Vincent, pop superstar Kimberly Walsh of the Pussycat Dolls, and popular comedian, actor and Patron of the BCA Bradley Walsh.

Dame Mary Perkins, who would have presented Claire with her medal, said: “British Citizen Award recipients are very special people. They all go above and beyond for others with selfless acts of kindness and community spirit with no thought or expectation of praise or reward.

"These awards are a great opportunity to shine a light on their good works and give them the recognition they so thoroughly deserve.

"They are the nation's true unsung heroes and, in a year that has been so very challenging for everyone, their contributions have been even more valuable than ever. I look forward to seeing all the recipients recognised in person as soon as is possible.”