Changing the lives of young people
Our charity was formed in the summer of 2020 with the purpose of providing skills training and paid employment to young people with learning disabilities, autism and ADHD.
At our core we have a board of seven trustees; all have a particular skill set which ensures we have a robust and knowledgeable internal structure with expertise spanning across Special Educational Needs, Teaching, Human Resources, Business Management and Marketing.
In 2018 Naomi Andrews joined the Hope Learning Community as a project manager, tasked with finding a solution.
The team looked at what was required in the region and the vision for Market Field Farm and Market Field Grows were developed. As we head into our third year, we now employ ten young people and two team leaders and plans for Market Field Farm are fully formed.
We believe in collaborating and partnering with local organisations, business and other charities to see our vision made real and support the work of other groups in our region.
Who are Market Field Farm
Our Team and Trustees
Founders
Naomi Andrews
Naomi is our project manager, who has headed up the research and delivery for the Board. Naomi is an experienced project manager - bringing resiliance and persistance into what can be a challenging role.
Founders
Gary Smith OBE
Gary has headed up the Market Field Learning Academy for 30 years. It is Gary’s vision and ideas which have fuelled the project from the outset. His ambition is to ensure that ‘school days are the best days of your life, not the only days’.
Operations
Joe Clodd
Joe is our first Market Field Grows Team Leader. Without Joe we would not be able to carry out our conservation and rewilding projects. A qualified horticulturalist, a tree surgeon and Scout Leader, Joe was the perfect fit for this formative and important role.
Trustees
Elizabeth Kuti
Elizabeth is a professor at the University of Essex and leads the Department of Literature, Film and Theatre Studies. Liz has expertise within writing bids and proposals and has a son at Market Field College.
Trustees
Miranda Andras
Miranda is a specialist autism mentor, working with autistic students who are studying at university. Miranda also tutors on the MA Inclusion course, specialising in Autism Children at the University of Birmingham. Miranda’s daughter is learning support assistant at Market Field School and brings with her an understanding of student and parent needs and aspirations for work post 19.
Trustees
Jennifer Rudkins
Jennifer works in the administration team for a pension consultancy. She has worked closely with the Trustees of pension schemes for over 30 years. Her son has attended Market Field School for the last 6 years. She wanted to be a Trustee of Market Field Farm because she could see the positive impact the Farm would have on young adults with additional needs as they leave education. She is very passionate about our children living positive and fulfilling lives when they become adults.
Jo Matthias
Jo lives locally and has a son at Market Field School. She is a senior specialist in Employee Relations and brings with her a wealth of knowledge including induction, health and safety risk assessments, inclusion and contract guidance.
David Bullock
David is an HR professional with over 30 years experience within a corporate environment. He and his wife, Marie, have fostered children for many years and have a son at Market Field School. David brings experience of HR policy and procedure to the Market Field board.
Support our work
Let’s come together to create
bright, productive futures.
Donations will go directly towards helping us establish a site to
transform the lives of many young people.