Health and Wellbeing

With our busy lives we can all be guilty of neglecting our own health and welfare. But, to be able to deal with life’s challenges we need to be fit and healthy. Farmers can find it difficult to spare the time to visit their GP practice so, in September 2019 the Rural Hub and Farmers’ Community Network (FCN) brought the health and welfare professionals to the farmer when we organised our first Fit for Farming event at Rugby Farmers’ Mart at Stoneleigh Park.

Working from the café we offered free head and shoulder massages to help relieve stress, organised for two registered nurses from Parish Nursing Ministries UK to take blood pressure readings and be available for private consultations, handed out the FCN booklet “Fit for Farming” free of charge and gave farmers the opportunity to speak informally to staff and volunteers from Farming Community Network, Royal Agricultural Benevolent Institution, Addington Fund and MacMillan Cancer Support.

By the end of the afternoon 46 farmers had had their blood pressure taken, 8 had been referred to their GP, 9 farmers had enjoyed a massage and 60 farmers had received information from MacMillan Cancer Support.

Following a break during lockdown we continued to hold events every 2 months.  Statistics collated from 10 events during 2022 and 2023 showed:

297 people engaged with a nurse
108 people enjoyed a back and neck massage
25 farmers received a private consultation in a separate room.
42 farmers were advised to visit their GP because of hypertension or other medical conditions.

“Thank you so much for today’s session. It came at a very useful time for me, and both Maya’s massage and the blood pressure reading have given me real help and insight into my current problems”.   Feedback comment received after our health event on 21 February 2022

But, as well as physical health support our events also provided the opportunity for farmers to talk to someone about any mental health issues. These events saw our nurses discuss subjects such as bereavement, depression, stress, sleep problems and financial worries.

Dates for 2025 health events:

10 February
5 March (Low Carbon Show)
12 May
7 July
8 September
3 November

These events are open to everyone – you don’t need to be attending the livestock mart to join us.  Just pop into the cafe in the Jersey Pavilion between 8.30am – 1.00pm to meet us.

Thank you for Rugby Farmers’ Mart, Jersey Cattle Society and the caterers for their support of these events.

Massage Therapist Maya Van der Galian from Vital Massage works on the back muscles of a farmer.

FCN/MACMILLAN RURAL COMMUNITIES PROJECT

Nip it in the Bud is a UK-wide partnership between Farming Community Network and Macmillan Cancer Support which is helping to improve the support available to those living with cancer in farming communities and rural areas.  The project is aiming to raise awareness in rural communities of the signs and symptoms of cancer and build referral bridges to and from Macmillan’s services.

Farmers, farm workers and people living in rural communities can have lower access to cancer services and support due to the nature of their work and rural life in often isolated areas.  For example, farmers can be particularly at-risk of certain types of cancer – such as skin cancer, prostate cancer, or cancers caused by exposure to carcinogens.  Moreover, as well as affecting the individual and their families there can also be the continuation of a business to consider, including immediate welfare issues for livestock.   Visit this link to read more about the project.

Sam Evans, the Project Officer for the Midlands region, will be joining us at Rugby Livestock Mart for as many health events as her diary allows.  

MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT

Talking to someone who understands the issues you are facing can help make a positive difference. This is why the farming charity Royal Agricultural Benevolent Institution offers in-person mental health counselling for farming people.  This free service provides:

• Access to a professional counsellor within 24 hours
• No need for a clinical referral
• Support delivered by trained professionals who understand how tough farming can be
• Confidential support is available face-to-face at home, or in a place where you feel comfortable, by telephone or video conferencing
• Freely available to all farming people

Whenever you are ready to talk, call the freephone 24/7 helpline – 0800 188 4444.  Alternatively, you can email help@rabi.org.uk

If you prefer to talk to someone online, RABI has formed a partnership with Qwell and Kooth to provide a free, confidential online community and counselling service for farmers and their families.  

Visit the Qwell site if you are over 18 years old.

Visit the Kooth site if you are aged between 11 and 17 years.

Welfare Organisations

Farming Community Network is a voluntary organisation and charity that supports farmers and families within the farming community.  They run a confidential, national helpline and e-helpline which is open every day of the year from 7am to 11pm and volunteers provide free, confidential, pastoral and practical support to anyone who seeks help. 

Helpline number: 03000 111 999

Email: help@fcn.org.uk 

Farmwell is FCN’s one stop resource to help you and your farm business stay strong and resilient.  

The Prince’s Countryside Fund National Directory of Farm and Rural Support Groups lists 69 organisations (including Warwickshire Rural Hub) who can provide support, guidance and advice to farming and rural communities.  

The Addington Fund is a registered farming charity whose main area of work is to provide homes for farming families living in England and Wales who have to leave the industry, through no fault of their own, and by doing so will lose their home. In times of emergency and where hardship prevails they may be able to assist with a grant towards certain business costs.

Royal Agricultural Benevolent Institute is farming’s oldest and largest charity which has been serving the farming community since 1860.  They offer financial support, practical care and guidance to farming people of all ages, including farmers, farmworkers and dependants.

Perennial is the UK’s only charity dedicated to helping everyone who works in horticulture, and their families, when times get tough. They provide free and confidential advice, information and support to people working in, or retired from horticulture and their families.

The Gamekeepers’ Welfare Trust provides grants, a telephone advice line and a jobs’ register for gamekeepers, stalkers, ghillies and their dependents.  

Farm Safety Foundation is working to raise awareness of farm safety in order to challenge and change attitudes to farming safely and reduce the number of accidents and fatalities in the agricultural industry.

Focussed Farmers has a set of resources for farmers and agri-sector workers to develop better understanding of their minds and in turn the ability to train their minds to achieve their goals with less stress

AgRespect wants to promote the countryside as a vibrant, tolerant and welcoming place for everyone irrespective of gender, ethnicity or sexual orientation.

The 2 Minute Farmer has identified 10 areas that contribute to a balanced farm life and has created a farm business self-assessment tool called the ‘Tractor Wheel of Life’.   The tool is in development so farmers are encouraged to complete the wheel and provide feedback.