Marden Court Care Home, part of The Orders of St John Care Trust (OSJCT), has partnered with Jamie’s Farm, Lower Shockerwick, Bath, to deliver an inspiring new collaboration designed to bring together older people and young people through shared experiences, purpose, and connection.

The initiative, named “The Marden/Jamie’s Farm Common Ground Programme”, was coined by Jamie’s Farm’s Co-CEO and reflects the heart of the project: creating a shared space where generations can learn from one another, build relationships, and thrive together.

As part of the programme, residents from Marden Court now visit Jamie’s Farm on a fortnightly basis, joining young people supported by the charity in hands-on farm activities. These sessions are carefully designed to build a sense of purpose, nurture a sense of belonging and create opportunities for reflection.

The farm has secured funding for the next five sessions, enabling continued visits that include practical activities followed by a shared lunch. One recent highlight saw a Marden Court resident, a keen gardener, take great pleasure in planting his own winter onions alongside the young people.

Jamie’s Farm is a national charity that supports young people facing challenges through immersive, farm-based programmes, helping them develop confidence, resilience, and emotional wellbeing while improving engagement with education and life skills. The Lower Shockerwick farm was officially opened by Queen Camilla in 2025, underlining the importance and impact of the charity’s work.

The partnership began with a single visit trialled in December, followed by a successful session last week bringing residents and young people together. Due to the overwhelmingly positive response, the collaboration has now grown into a formal programme.

To further support Jamie’s Farm, Marden Court held a charity cake sale in November, raising over £170 for the farm. Residents, staff, families, and the local community all contributed, demonstrating strong shared commitment to the initiative.

Jake Curtis, Co-CEO at Jamie’s Farm comments, 

Bringing the generations closer together has always been an aspiration of Jamie’s Farm . The research shows just how important sharing common ground is to both generations, improving both physical and mental wellbeing, and the meaningful and joyful work taking place on our farms is ripe for fantastic experiences and memory making together. And so it proved when we welcomed our first group from Marden Court to join our young people who were living and working alongside us that week at Lower Shockerwick Farm. This was the first of a planned programme of visits and we are already looking forward to having the Marden Court residents back.

The next visit will take place next Wednesday, when three more Marden Court residents will travel to the farm to meet the animals and spend time with the young people. This growing partnership highlights the power of community collaboration and the positive impact of intergenerational projects in promoting wellbeing, purpose, and connection.

📍 Marden Court, Quarr Barton, Calne, SN11 0EE, United Kingdom

📞 01522 405782

🌐 Marden Court | Care Home in Calne | OSJCT