A charity in Surrey that provides animal-assisted learning to disabled young people is urgently seeking to relocate after discovering that its intended permanent home is a shooting ground.
Change of Scene has been operating its farm in Farnham for 16 years, but the charity is now at risk of closing if it cannot secure a new location. The charity requires £600,000 to purchase land, build a facility for the children, offices, toilets, and storage for hay.
Pam Robinson, the charity’s chief executive, explained that while they had identified a new site in West Sussex last year, their plans “fell apart.” The charity has been searching for a new location for the past four years.
“We were in negotiations with the landowner and estate agents from May to December. We were in the final stages of signing the lease and awaiting legal feedback,” Ms. Robinson said. “We had submitted both a pre-planning application and a full planning application, believing everything was moving forward.”
However, a neighbor contacted the charity to inform them that third-party shooting rights existed over the land, making it an unsuitable location for children, animals, and staff.
Ms. Robinson said the charity lost £20,000 in the process and is now “desperately trying to recover lost time.” Although they must vacate the current site by June 2026, they are hopeful of finding a new home by Easter.
“For some of the children, we’re the only activity outside of their home and family life,” she added.