About us
Future Roots is a social enterprise. That means we are a business, but unlike a traditional business, any profit we make is reinvested back into our community. It does not get paid to directors or shareholders.
We started in 2006 as Farming for Life and registered our enterprise in 2008 as Future Roots. We’ve now been supporting young people for over a decade and hope to continue for many years to come.
Future Roots was the vision of our founder, Julie Plumley. Julie’s a Dorset farmer’s daughter, but went on to have a long career in social work. Future Roots combines the best of both worlds.
Why we are called Future Roots (it is all in a name!)
The name ‘Future Roots’ originated as we want the people who need us to feel that their ‘Future’ prospects are better because of what we offer. This might be happiness and wellbeing or improved resilience giving the ability to cope with a personal situation. It might be about gaining qualifications and having better job prospects. Each of the above leads to hope that their ‘Future’ will be better than they had previously thought and a belief they can achieve.
‘Roots’ came from knowing that everyone needs ‘Roots’ to provide the key nutrients to strengthen and grow. ‘Roots’ are also a stretchable anchor, being a safe and secure place to return that will ground you when you feel lost. Our aim is to provide stability and direction through any tough times for young people and their families.
Future Roots, provides a safe space, support and mentoring, qualifications eg. functional skills in English and Maths, land-based qualifications, as well as therapeutic opportunities for young people up to 25 to develop confidence, resilience and skills to give hope which will improve their mental health and future prospects to live a healthy and positive life using a countryside and farm environment with access to experienced mentors.
We are well respected within the local community, with establish strong links with Dorset Council, Dorset’s VCSE sector, Dorset’s Youth Forum. We are commissioned and approved by Dorset Council, delivering the following services at Future Roots:
- Dorset Family Matters
- Alternative Provision, 11 to 18years, offering NOCN qualifications and functional skills, John Muir awards, therapeutic animal assisted therapy
- Dorset Short Breaks Holiday provision, 8 to 18 years
We have other funding streams through bids for:
- Rural Remedies Programme, 8 to 13 years
- Futures Programme Post Intern Programme, 16 to 18years
- Supported Internships. 16 years and over, for young people with EHCP’s
- Ambassadors Programme. Young people who still connect to Future Roots
- Potter’s Garden, 18 years and over
How it works
Young people don’t come to Future Roots because they are ‘naughty’ or ‘bad’. They are referred because they need a safe and secure learning environment, where they feel they can achieve, in order to reach their potential. We believe there are always reasons for behaviours (not excuses) and that there is always a solution.
Future Roots can accept referrals from any registered school or local authority, provided the young person is on roll. We work in partnership to compliment the curriculum as part of a re- engagement or therapeutic programme to enhance young people’s opportunities and achievements. Parents can contact us to discuss referrals.
We operate an inclusive environment where inclusion means offering opportunities and environments where a young person can learn and develop positively without feeling marginalised. We work in partnership with schools and with young people if they are experiencing challenges that prevent them from reaching their potential within traditional educational settings.