Mike James is a volunteer

Mike was an Assistant Headteacher at a local secondary school until he retired in 2007. As part of his retirement he decided he wanted to do some voluntary work but with a different slant to his previous career. Mike became a HART (Holderness Area Rural Transport) volunteer driver and, once trained, was asked to do a Thursday pick-up from Trafalgar House, the MIND headquarters in Hull to Densholme Farm. He liked both his passengers and the farm and asked if he could do this run regularly.

After a time Mike started to spend the full day at the farm as well as driving. He has also become a MIND volunteer taking some responsibility for the people working on the farm.
In his time on the farm Mike has seen both the farm change, in terms of crops growing, the introduction of new livestock, the building of a pond, and so on, as well as seeing the growth of friendships and the improved mental health of those he works with.

“This isn’t for everybody and some come to the farm more often than others,” Mike says. “But the most important point is that everyone is welcome and we make them feel welcome.” He is looking forward to seeing the farm develop and hopes, aged limbs permitting, to continue to play a part in it.