February 2018
Monteith Farm, like all members of the Waitrose Foundation, has the business and technical capacity to adapt to necessary changes in business markets as well as the natural environment.
This Category A farm (having a registered social development trust with the necessary governance structure as well as sufficient funds) is currently demonstrating the same willingness and ability to adapt in its social development work on the farm.
They are changing in key areas such as individual and corporate mindsets/attitudes towards social development as well as staff management and social development systems. Farm management in partnership with community leaders also changed from a project-based approach to the more long-term programme-based approach to social development.
The results they are starting to see include increased farm worker participation, emerging community leadership, project effectiveness as well as improved ownership for their own advancement amongst the farm worker community.
Waitrose Foundation plays a supportive, coaching role during this period of transition and creates opportunities for the project coordinator and committee members to share relevant lessons/knowledge within the Foundation’s network of member farms.
Examples of projects that are becoming programmes, based on its importance and development potential include the following:
