Taking each new High Sheriff to visit local charities has become an enjoyable tradition. Annie Brown, the East Sussex High Sheriff for 2025/26, is a third-generation family farmer on the South Downs. She has worked hard to bridge the gap between town and down: supporting the premise that understanding and enjoying the rural landscape is key to good health and wellbeing. With this in mind, we visited Little Gate Farm and Veterans’ Growth.

Little Gate’s supported employment programme helps people with learning disabilities and autism into work, knowing that with the right support, they can be happy and valued employees in any industry. Paid employment can bring life-changing benefits; beyond financial gain, the improvement to self-esteem and confidence can be astounding.

Annie and I met Andrea Randall-Smith, the CEO, and members of the team, who showed us round the farm. They offer a variety of activity groups to help trainees build skills, with the aim of getting a paid job. This includes two social enterprises: cut flowers and charcoal production.

We were blown away by the dedication of both staff and the young people, who mostly attend the farm twice per week.

One thing that was evident from arrival and meeting Sarah Wilson, the CEO of Veterans’ Growth, was the aura of calm over the site.

Veterans’ Growth was set up by Jason Stevens, who was medically discharged from the MOD in 2016 after a stroke. Diagnosed with PTSD, Jason found gardening was the only thing that improved his mental health. After reading about the high veteran suicide rates and the limited provision for post-discharge help, Jason set up Veterans’ Growth.

The charity runs on minimal costs thanks to a peppercorn rent and some very committed volunteers and staff. Every veteran who wants to attend is supported, and some on-site accommodation is available for those living outside Sussex.

Veterans’ Growth courses reduce stress, anxiety, depression and isolation. They also help establish long-term social connections and introduce horticulture as a future hobby or career.

In addition to outdoor activities (including looking after some extremely grumpy pigs!), veterans have access to a wonderful new kitchen where they learn about nutrition and using the home-grown food.

At the end of our day, Annie and I were delighted to have seen how two very different charities were using connection with rural skills to improve the mental health and life chances. Read more about our Acting on Climate funding priority and other rural projects in Sussex here.