Rhubarb Farm

What Rhubarb Farm does

Rhubarb Farm is a horticultural environmental social enterprise and registered charity operating from a single site on Hardwick Street in Langwith, on the Derbyshire–Nottinghamshire border in the United Kingdom. Founded in 2009, the organisation delivers four core programmes — Adult Day Service, Wellbeing Support, Recovery Support, and Community Food (Emergency Food Boxes) — using therapeutic horticulture and outdoor activity-based support for adults facing learning disabilities, mental health challenges, addiction recovery needs, and social isolation, as well as short-term food relief for individuals and families in crisis. Two annual community events, National Garden Scheme Open Days and the HopeFest alcohol-free wellbeing event at Pleasley Pit, extend its reach into the wider regional community.

The organisation operates a dual legal structure comprising Rhubarb Farm CIC (Community Interest Company, Companies House No. 07059841) and Rhubarb Farm CIO (Charitable Incorporated Organisation, Charity Commission No. 1194757), with a governance split between a Board of Directors and a Board of Trustees. Service delivery is on-site at the farm and accessed through a referral-led placement process involving social workers, healthcare professionals, families, and self-referrals, often funded via Adult Social Care personal budgets, direct payments, or private arrangements. Income is generated through four streams: Adult Social Care–funded placements, private placement fees, individual donations processed via JustGiving with Gift Aid, and passive fundraising via Easyfundraising and event-based activities.

The go-to-market motion is community-led, with no paid digital marketing, no native mobile application, and no technology platform or AI capability disclosed. The organisation holds compliance credentials including UK GDPR, the Derbyshire County Council Adult Social Care Framework, the NHS Data Security and Protection Toolkit, the Equality Act 2010, and VAT registration (GB996826838). Geographic scope is regional (Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire), and reported headcount is 1–10 employees.

Name

Rhubarb Farm

Legal name

Rhubarb Farm CIC and Rhubarb Farm CIO

Website

https://rhubarbfarm.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

2009

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Rhubarb Farm is a UK horticultural social enterprise and registered charity based in Langwith that delivers therapeutic horticulture programmes — Adult Day Service, Wellbeing Support, Recovery Support, and Emergency Food Boxes — for adults with learning disabilities, mental health needs, addiction recovery, or social isolation in Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Social Care and Therapeutic Horticulture Services

NAICS

Community Food and Housing, and Emergency and Other Relief Services (6242), Community Food Services (62421)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Special Needs Adult Day Programs (Developmental/Physical Disabilities, Seniors) (HLADAIAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

Therapeutic Adult Day Programs (PT/OT/SLP, Cognitive Rehab) (HSABANAF), Food Assistance & Safety Nets (In-Kind, Vouchers, Cash Transfers) (BPADAJAA)

Keywords

• Therapeutic horticulture services
• Adult day services
• Social enterprise programmes
• Community wellbeing support
• Addiction recovery support

Headquarters

HQ city

Langwith

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Charitable Contributions: Donations received through JustGiving platform go to Rhubarb Farm CIO (registered charity). Gift Aid is administered through JustGiving for UK taxpayers, allowing donations to be increased at no extra cost.
2. Adult Social Care Funding: Placements are often funded through Adult Social Care, with support funded through personal budgets, direct payments, or private referrals.
3. Private Placement Fees: Fees apply for some placements, explained clearly after taster day assessment. Some people join through private referrals.
4. Fundraising Income: Funds raised for specific purposes are used as intended. If not possible, funds applied to closest related area of need.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Rhubarb Farm delivers therapeutic horticulture programmes and community-focused support services for adults with learning disabilities, mental health challenges, addiction recovery needs, and food insecurity. Core offerings include Adult Day Service, Wellbeing Support, Recovery Support, and Emergency Food Boxes, delivered through structured placement programmes on-site at the farm in Langwith.

Product overview

Rhubarb Farm operates as a social enterprise and charity offering therapeutic horticulture and community-focused support programmes. The core offering consists of four interconnected programmes: Adult Day Service (structured horticulture for adults with learning disabilities and long-term conditions), Wellbeing Support (for mental health and social isolation), Recovery Support (for addiction recovery), and Community Food (Emergency Food Boxes for short-term food relief). The farm also hosts community events including National Garden Scheme Open Days and the annual HopeFest wellbeing event. Individuals access programmes through a structured application process that may be funded via personal budgets, direct payments, Adult Social Care, or private referrals.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Adult Day Service Structured, horticulture-based day activities for adults with learning disabilities and other long-term conditions. Provides meaningful work activities, routine, and tailored support within a safe, structured working environment, often funded through Adult Social Care personal budgets or direct payments.
• Wellbeing Support Programme for adults experiencing mental ill health, emotional challenges, or social isolation. Offers therapeutic gardening, outdoor sessions, gentle structure, and purposeful activity to improve confidence, wellbeing, and daily stability.
• Recovery Support Programme for adults who have experienced addiction or substance use issues and are now in active recovery. Provides practical work activities, positive routine, and a supportive environment encouraging motivation, responsibility, and continued recovery.
• Community Food / Emergency Food Boxes Provides emergency food support to individuals and families in the local community who need immediate help with essential food supplies. Includes practical short-term assistance provided free of charge when circumstances become unexpectedly challenging.
• National Garden Scheme Open Day Seasonal community event where visitors can explore the farm, meet staff, learn about the work, and purchase produce and plants. Adult entry £3, children free; entry fees go to the National Garden Scheme beneficiaries.
• HopeFest Annual alcohol-free wellbeing family event held at Pleasley Pit, featuring live music, wellbeing workshops, family activities, and food and soft drinks to raise awareness of the farm's mission.

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration4 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Pleasley PitminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 5 September 2026HopeFest annual wellbeing event is held at Pleasley Pit (NG19 7PH), an external venue. This partnership allows the alcohol-free family wellbeing event to take place with larger capacity and community reach.
• Professionals and Community PartnerscoreOthersRhubarb Farm works with professionals, organisations, and community partners who can refer individuals for Emergency Food Boxes. Partners include social workers, healthcare providers, and other support services who identify people in need of emergency food support.
• JustGivingcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorJustGiving processes online donations for Rhubarb Farm CIO, the registered charity. The platform also administers Gift Aid for UK taxpayers, increasing donation value at no extra cost. All donations made through JustGiving go to Rhubarb Farm CIO.
• EasyfundraisingminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorEasyfundraising partnership allows supporters to raise money for Rhubarb Farm while shopping online with participating retailers. Retailers make small donations to the farm at no extra cost to the shopper.
• National Garden Scheme (NGS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational Garden Scheme Open Days are hosted at Rhubarb Farm. Entry fees (£3 adults, children free) go to NGS, which distributes funds to beneficiary charities. Rhubarb Farm is an NGS beneficiary.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights3 records

Broad incumbents

• Mind (UK): National mental health charity supporting people with mental health problems across England and Wales. Overlaps on the mental health and wellbeing support programme but operates at vastly greater scale.
• Turning Point: Large UK social enterprise providing learning disability, mental health and substance use services. Operates in overlapping beneficiary categories but at much greater scale and across many settings.

Direct peers

• Jamie's Farm: UK charity using residential farm-based interventions to support young people facing social, emotional and educational challenges. Closely comparable farm-as-therapeutic-setting model with schools and social services referrals.
• Thrive (Royal Horticultural Society partner): UK charity using gardening and horticulture to support people with disabilities, mental ill-health, and social isolation. Directly comparable therapeutic horticulture model with similar beneficiary groups and referral-based access.
• Growing Support: UK charity delivering therapeutic gardening activities in care settings for older people and adults living with dementia and depression. Comparable therapeutic horticulture methodology with similar referral pathways.
• Farms for City Children: UK charity running residential farm experiences for children from urban areas, using outdoor work to build resilience and wellbeing. Comparable farm-based therapeutic intervention with schools and social services referral model.
• Together for Mental Wellbeing: UK charity supporting people with mental health needs through personalised, community-based support. Comparable person-centred model and overlapping mental health beneficiary segment.

Others

• Social Farms & Gardens: UK membership body supporting care farms, city farms and community gardens. Acts as an enabling network and accreditation route for organisations like Rhubarb Farm delivering therapeutic horticulture services.

Emerging players

• Yeldall Manor (Blue Sky social enterprise): UK charity offering residential recovery programmes for men overcoming addiction. Directly comparable on the recovery support programme line through similar mission and referral pathway.
• TRJ Connections: East Midlands charity providing outreach and personal development for vulnerable adults including those with learning disabilities and mental health needs. Regional comparable with similar beneficiaries and local-authority funding reliance.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/RhubarbFarmCIC
• Xx.com/RHUBARBFARM1
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/rhubarb-farm

Compliance9 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Rhubarb Farm