We first met Sue in 2021 when she was exploring her vision for Reboot Green Care: an outdoor space to help children who were experiencing school refusal.

Sue sat with our BCM helpers to look at all aspects of her research and ways to turn her learning into action. Together we explored the merits of various organisational structures, potential partnerships and the processes of recruiting trustees, business planning and raising funds. One of our BCM helpers has experience with therapeutic horticulture and relevant contacts in care farm sites, which was especially useful. Another has deep knowledge of charity governance rules, which helped Sue through the process of taking on the trusteeship of an existing charity – Woodgate Valley Urban Farm.

With the help of corporate volunteers and grant funding, Sue transformed the site at Woodgate Valley. It became an accredited Care Farm –  meaning it is nationally recognised for providing therapeutic use of farming practices. Sue also launched Reboot Green Care there in July 2023 as an NHS-funded project. Participants could be referred by parents and guardians, local authorities, healthcare commissioners, the police and other professionals. It supported 48 children with a diagnosis of (or self-identifying as having) autism. Participants would have one-to-one and small group sessions on the farm and in the woodland, caring for animals and engaging with nature.