Located just 10 minutes from CGI's Space Park Leicester office, Gorse Hill City Farm is home to around 120 animals and provides an important educational and recreational resource for schools, families and community groups across the local area.
Recently the farm has faced increasing financial pressures, including rising hay costs and local funding being lost, highlighting the need for additional support to help secure its future. As an organisation committed to creating positive outcomes in the communities where its members live and work, CGI wanted to support a valued local asset that many of its members already know well through volunteering and visits.
The funding will be invested in three priority projects identified by the farm that will have an immediate and lasting impact on its day-to-day operations.
The first project will modernise the farm's water system. Currently, staff and volunteers manually fill more than half of the animals' water troughs each day using buckets. Installing a new system will reduce water waste, improve efficiency and lower operating costs while supporting the farm's environmental sustainability goals.
The donation will also fund the purchase of a new lawnmower, enabling staff to maintain the extensive grounds more effectively and freeing up valuable time to focus on animal care and visitor experiences.
In addition, funding will be used to upgrade the fencing around the pig enclosure, improving animal welfare by allowing the pigs to be moved more easily between different areas of the farm.
Donna Kelly, Senior Vice-President, South and Midlands at CGI, said: "Supporting the communities where we live and work is a core part of who we are at CGI. Gorse Hill City Farm is a fantastic local organisation that provides invaluable opportunities for education, wellbeing and community engagement, while caring for more than 120 animals. We are delighted to be able to support the farm through this funding and hope this is just the beginning of our partnership. Alongside the donation, we're looking forward to seeing our members use their volunteer days to help with future projects and continue making a positive difference together."
Dave Payn, Chair of the Trust, Gorse Hill City Farm, said: "On behalf of the Trustees, staff and many volunteers, we would like to express our sincere thanks for the very generous donation to the trust. This funding will significantly support our planned and upcoming projects. We evaluate all our work against three key priorities: enhancing the visitor experience, including health and safety; delivering environmental and sustainability improvements; and strengthening our education and community volunteering programmes. This funding will help with all three areas. We also look forward to developing our relationship with CGI, with teams from the company joining us for volunteer days and supporting a range of practical projects across the site."
The donation marks the beginning of CGI's support for Gorse Hill City Farm. Alongside this financial contribution, CGI will encourage its members to use their annual volunteering day to support future projects across the farm. By combining funding with hands-on volunteering, CGI is reinforcing its commitment to creating positive outcomes in the communities where its members live and work, helping ensure Gorse Hill City Farm continues to thrive as a valued community resource for years to come.
