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There must certainly have been times when it was hard to see the potential in Bradford City Farm. The place was overgrown and the only buildings on the site were dilapidated shacks. To be frank, the place was in dire need of tender loving care. Founded in 1994 with high hopes, Bradford City Farm served the city for ten years. However in 2004, due to lack of cash, it closed its gates with little hope for the future. But one year later, a Bradford youth charity that helps teenagers who are finding it difficult to cope in mainstream education bought the site and renamed it PRISM City Farm. The charity, PRISM Youth Project, aimed to use the farm as a place where young people could get a practical education they couldn't get behind a desk in a classroom.

Tony: "Challenging and rewarding"

Fast forward to today and the shacks have been replaced by brick buildings as the workers and teenagers have, quite literally, brought the farm back to life – creating a brand new nature trail, a pond, a greenhouse, a rabbit house and, with a reptile house on the horizon, it may seem that there's no limit to the farm's potential. Tony Cahill, one of the coordinators at the site, praises the teenagers for the transformation: "The kids have had a massive role in building this place. They've built these buildings here with me. They've got ownership now."

Looking around the farm it's remarkable to see what 25 teenagers and 10 members of staff have created. Chickens, ducks, rabbits, and goats are just a few of the farm's residents fed and cared for by the young people. It seems that the teenagers have had a positive effect on the farm and Tony believes the farm has returned the favour: "It's paramount that the kids have been able to do this...The skills that they've learned here are invaluable. They've learned social skills, people skills, horticulture, animals, and construction. It's all here. And it's healthy for them. They get to work outside [all year round]...The animals have to be fed no matter what the weather is. It gives them a great chance to work outside, something which they might not be able to do otherwise."

Popular: Rabbits at the Farm

Tony is passionate about his job and believes that the farm is giving the teenagers something that mainstream education can't: "The best thing about working here? It's challenging and it's rewarding. I know this sounds like clichés but it's true. It's rewarding to make a difference to some of these kids. They think that they haven't got a chance of doing anything. Nobody's given them a chance. I know I can get the best out of them. I can find the best in them…" It's hard not to be impressed by Tony's words especially when he talks about one of the farm's 'graduates': "A lad that was here a couple of years ago is now working for a building firm and he's really well thought of. When he came here he couldn't even lay a brick to start with! So that's a good success story."

Ashley is 14-years-old and is one of the teenagers currently working at the site, and while taking a well deserved break from shearing sheep he talks about his time at the farm: "I've been coming here around about six years...The best thing about coming here is the animals. There used to be a farm at my old school but it wasn't as good as this...I like construction and feeding the animals. This [animal care] is something that I want to do when I'm older." The animals are, in fact, not just popular with Ashley but the rest of the teenagers too. Liam who's fifteen-years-old, a fellow sheep shearer, agrees: "I've been coming here for about two years...It's better than school because you can work with animals." But when pressed on what else he likes about the farm Liam immediately says: "The staff." And it shows. It's clear to see that the staff command the respect of the teenagers and, in turn, that respect is reciprocated.

Marvin: "So much to offer"

There is a great example of this mutual respect as staff member Marvin Gaye, (no, not that Marvin Gaye) supervises two lads while they transform one of the lower plots from a jungle to a well mowed field. It's fair to say that, because of the respect between teenagers and staff, a place like this is important for the teenagers. However, Marvin believes that the farm goes much further than that: "Personally, I think this is very important for Bradford. There are not many places like this that offer animals, education and the chance to get out there and grow your own veg."

Marvin, who is in charge of the farm's veg and plants, explains the work that the teenagers do with him: "We do a lot of growing plants here. The kids learn about pests and diseases and soil and structure. We make a lot of raised 'beds' and we do a lot of hands-on work...We go from seeds to growing the plants...There seems to be a lot in the media about communities growing their own veg, and it'd be great if these children could perhaps have a patch in their own back garden."

As work continues on the farm Marvin sums up a feeling that seems to be felt by everyone working on the farm: "The best thing about working here is the opportunity and the potential. We've got so much to offer these kids it's unbelievable. It's a really good feeling."

Bradford City Farm, Walker Drive, BD8 9EZ is open Monday to Friday from 2:30pm onwards. Entrance is free.