Festival on the Farm is raising £1,500 for it’s chosen charities for 2026

The Wiltshire Massive Community Music Project.

Service users from Windswept mental health rehabilitation ward in Swindon were funded by the Duke of Beaufort in 2023, to engage in music studio sessions which enabled them to record a song of their choice. They were able to experience singing, playing instruments and recording and producing their own track which was then performed at a local music festival to over 2000 people.

Every year the Festival on the Farm raise money to enable even more people to have the same opportunity, this year the music studio sessions are open to even more clients throughout Wiltshire.

Story

People with mental health issues say that stigma and discrimination have a negative effect on their lives. Sometimes unable to find work, engage in positive and meaningful occupations, have interpersonal relationship struggles or be socially included in mainstream society.

It is for this reason that Occupational Therapist, Theresa York broke down some of these barriers and gave service users the opportunity to visit a local music studio and record a song that will be performed at the festival to over 2000 people.

The local music studio was ‘Mooncalf Studios’ which is in a beautiful setting just outside Swindon and the initial funding in 2023, came from an unlikely source, ‘The Duke of Beaufort’ who owns Badminton estate (he is the singer in the band that the OT also sings in). The 8x 2 hour sessions costing £640 set up this amazing opportunity to record music which was opened up to all service users, staff and placement students who attended the studio in groups.

Service users from Windswept ward in 2023 chose the song, ‘Don’t Stop Believing’ by Journey, and were able to sing or play instruments which were then recorded into a backing track or some chose just to enjoy the space! 1:1 sessions are also available to clients that find group situations difficult or maybe would prefer to record their own song, maintaining inclusivity as much as possible.

The following year, in 2024, the festival raised approximately £3000 to enable more clients to record the song, ‘Run’ by Snow Patrol which was very emotional and greatly received by the festival goers. We even had the Dr. and the Medics singer in tears!

This year, the Wiltshire OT team and their clients are currently in the studio recording, ‘Hallelujah’ and have written their own song called, ‘Colleague Announcement’ which was penned in the community room at the back of the Tesco’s store in Trowbridge. These songs will be performed at this year’s 2026 FOTF!

SwimTayka

Two sisters from Purton are taking on a daily cold water challenge as part of their preparation to swim the English Channel later this summer.

Story

Imogen and Matilda Meers are committing to a so-called dip a day throughout January alongside their relay teammates. The challenge involves daily cold water exposure to help them adapt to harsh sea conditions.

Their training has included cold showers, lake swims, snow angels and being sprayed with a hose. The sisters say the aim is to build tolerance to freezing temperatures and mental resilience.

The pair are raising money for SwimTayka, a charity that teaches children in waterside communities how to swim and stay safe in open water. The organisation operates in countries including Brazil, Peru and Bali, and is launching a new programme in the UK this year.

SwimTayka funds its work through sponsored English Channel relay swims held each summer. Teams of five or six swimmers take turns to swim for around an hour while crossing one of the world’s busiest shipping lanes.

Training for a Channel crossing involves more than physical endurance. Swimmers must also prepare mentally for cold water, jellyfish, fatigue and unpredictable sea conditions.

Imogen and Matilda, who are organic farmers, decided to take on the challenge in memory of their father, Alex Meers. He died twenty years ago from leukaemia.

Imogen said: “Swimming the English Channel has been a dream of ours since we were young. We hope one day to complete it solo, but this summer we are thrilled to start the journey as part of a relay team, and to do it for such an incredible charity, SwimTayka.

“Our preparation has already begun with trips away with the relay team, daily cold swims and squad training.”

Matilda added: “Our Dad was our biggest supporter in all of our swimming endeavours and had hoped that one day we would make it to the Olympics.

“While the Olympics may not have happened, we believe this is the next best thing and he would be so proud of knowing what we are setting our ambitions towards.’

More information about SwimTayka and its English Channel relay swims is available at www.swimtayka.org

Prospect Hospice

Caring for you and your loved ones.

At Prospect Hospice, we support patients and families within our community. We offer our services to more than 330,000 people across Swindon, Marlborough and the surrounding areas. Whether in our hospice or in your own home, we’re here to provide care whenever and wherever you need it.

CALM

CALM is a registered charity run by parents who have all experienced what it is like to have a child diagnosed with cancer. We help families in the Swindon and Marlborough areas that have a child receiving treatment at the Great Western Hospital in Swindon.

CALM is a purely voluntary charity with no NHS funding, no paid employees which receives funding from the local community.

Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page.

Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving - they'll never sell them on or send unwanted emails. Once you donate, I will withdraw funds directly. It's the most efficient way to donate and saves time and costs.