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Staff from the Legal, Regulatory and Compliance team of the Bank of Montreal ("BMO") are excited to raise funds for Farms for City Children. Most of us have been locked up in our homes for much of the last 18 months due to COVID-19 restrictions and have yearned for more time outside.   We are fortunate at BMO that many of us have had access to a garden, open city parks,  or even the countryside.

For many children living in the inner city, perhaps in tower blocks, access to green space has simply not been possible – the impact of lockdown has hit these children particularly hard. BMO has recently formed a relationship with Prior Weston School, a primary school less than a mile from our new offices 

Even before lockdown, many of the children at Prior Weston had never left London - never experienced the freedom of open countryside and the joy of fresh, clean air, never seen a farm or a field of livestock – much less interacted with farm animals, harvested their own food or roasted marshmallows over an open fire.

Through a partnership with the charity, Farms for City Children, we want to provide two classes of children from Prior Weston with these unforgettable experiences – and much, much, more. BMO is looking to sponsor a week’s residential experience for one class at the Devon Farm and one class here in in Gloucestershire.  (points camera at the farm)

During their week, children could be milking cows, weighing pigs, planting seeds, harvesting fruit and vegetables, mucking out barns, making cheese or pressing apples. They will have the chance to accomplish new things, grow in confidence, develop strong ambition and build relationships with their classmates, teachers and farm staff. They will learn about their connection to nature, to the food they eat and take ownership of the countryside. 

Farms for City Children prioritises schools in areas of high deprivation and high uptake of Free School Meals. The charity subsidises the cost of every visit by at least 60%.

BMO are aiming to raise at least £10,000 but hopefully more to help with the cost of 75 children participating in this week long programme. 

To do this, BMO staff are going to walk, run, ride, row or cycle 424 miles. This is the distance from our Queen Victoria Street offices to the Gloucestershire farm, on to the Devon farm and back to QVS. We will  competing with other BMO teams on mileage. But what really matters is the money we raise for this important cause.

We are looking to YOU to sponsor our efforts.

Thank you!