Farm family diversifies to day care for children

The Colwell family from Ballyhalbert run a 150 head dairy farm, but with five daughters, decided that expanding thier dairy herd was not the best way forward. So they applied to the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (DARD) for Peace II funding to diversify into a new area of business, switching their attention from cattle to childcare.

The Colwell's moved out of thier traditional farm house to a converted barn and opened a day nursery in the farmhouse.  The 'fun farm' day nursery provides day care for 37 children in a rural setting, offering working mums in rural areas the chance to access childcare.  The nursary also provided employment for three full time and five part time staff.

DARD funded £20,000 towards this business.  This financial support, from Peace II funding, provided the Colwell's with a firm foundation to set up a high standard of day care.  The business is now one year old and is going from strenght to strenght.  

The Colwells are one of 167 farm families who are availing of diversification funding through Measure 1.7a of the EU Peace Programme.  The assistance is provided by means of group Change Management courses, followed by individual mentoring and financial support to undertake appropriate training or set up on-farm diversification enterprises.

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