Mike Duxbury and Ness Shillito
The pair have received Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's daily Points of Light award, for their ongoing support to students with diverse needs.
Mike, who lost his sight at age six from infantile glaucoma, grew up on a farm, and despite the challenges he has always been determined to continue his journey in the industry.
His biggest hurdle was securing a place at college due to his visual impairment but, all that changed when he was accepted into Warwickshire College of Agriculture.
See also: Read Mike's full story from childhood through to the establishment of The Inclusive Farm
Mike's aim is to help support others in similar circumstances and help bring more diversity into farming. This led him to team up with Ness Shillito, who has a background in childcare and education.
Since then, they have transformed and self-funded an overgrown site in Bedfordshire into a working farm, The Inclusive Farm, both hoping to make agriculture more accessible for disabled people.
It gives students and people with disabilities the chance to learn practical skills such as animal husbandry, agricultural skills and bringing products to market.
The next step for Mike is to expand what they have done at The Inclusive Farm and reach more young people. They are currently looking at their options in Scotland.
Reflecting on their achievement and the award, Mike and Ness said: "We are delighted to receive the Prime Minister's Point of Light Award. We are truly humbled to receive this accolade for the work that we do in creating a better world and community environment for people with difference through our Inclusive Farm project. We hope that this award will lead to a greater awareness and better understanding of diversity, inclusion and equality throughout society and business."
See also: Farming couple receive Points of Light Award to mark suicide prevention day
