Strictly Young Farmers

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Strictly Young Farmers

County Down Young Farmers are hosting ‘Strictly Young Farmers’ to help raise funds for Rural Support. The event is taking place on Saturday 23rd January in the Ramada Hotel, Shaw’s Bridge with doors opening at 7pm. Six hundred tickets have already been sold so it is looking like it is going to be a very successful & busy evening.

If you would like to purchase tickets you can do so through your local YFC club or via the following link https://www.tickettailor.com/all-tickets/13125/1dd3/ Strictly Young Farmers Poster-page-001

Rural Support’s Charity Appeal Harvests More Hampers with Help from Local Producers

Local Agri-Businesses Unite to Help Simple Power and Rural Support Deliver over 100 Hampers to Rural Families in Need

Farming and rural charity, Rural Support, and wind energy company, Simple Power, are celebrating the success of their third annual ‘Christmas Hamper Scheme’, which aimed to help hard-hit families throughout Northern Ireland.

With support from 19 local agri businesses donating food and drink items, the charity was aided in delivering over 100 hampers for farming and rural families in need this Christmas. Since its launch in 2013, the scheme has grown year-on-year, with 2015 delivering the largest appeal to date and doubling the number of hampers distributed since year one.

Rural Support’s Chief Executive, Jude McCann, commented, “In the wake of farm gate prices and the dairy crisis, 2015 has been a particularly challenging year for the farming and rural community. This has been reflected in the increasing number of people availing of Rural Support’s services through our helpline which has seen a 25% increase in calls in recent months compared to the same period last year.”

“With even more families in distress, we are delighted that we were able to deliver our biggest hamper appeal yet, with over 100 families benefitting from the scheme this year. We were overwhelmed by the generosity of local agri-producers, especially given the added pressures these companies are under during the festive season. Their help is much needed and makes a great difference to a rural family in need this Christmas. We would like to sincerely thank Simple Power for their support in co-ordinating the scheme and enabling us to reach more families with packed hampers this year.”

Rural Support is working with its CSR partner, wind energy company Simple Power, on campaigns to raise awareness of the importance of health and wellbeing in rural communities and farm families, including the Christmas Hamper Appeal.

Simple Power Chief Executive, Philip Rainey, commented, “We are delighted to see the Christmas Hamper Appeal become bigger and better each year and we are proud to support this very important charity initiative. Christmas can be a very special time for many but it’s important to acknowledge that it can also be a difficult time of year for those in hardship. With the support of the local producers, the hampers go some way towards delivering a little Christmas cheer this year to hard-hit rural families, alongside Rural Support’s very beneficial support services. The scheme would not be possible without the generous support of donors and we thank each of the 19 companies that contributed to the scheme this year.”

This year’s Christmas Hamper Appeal included generous donations from Ballyeamon Eggs, Cavanagh Eggs, Clandeboye Estate Yoghurt, Comber Potato Company, Dale Farm, DJ’s Apple Juice, The Good Little Company, Karro Foods, Kerry Food Group, Lidl NI, Mash Direct, Moy Park, Punjana Tea, Rural Development Council, South Antrim Community Network, Tayto, Tesco NI, Ulster Farmers Union, White’s Oats and Wilsons Country.

Rural Support helps farming and rural families across Northern Ireland on a wide range of issues, from farm business and financial issues to concerns about physical and mental health. The charity provides support for the rural community through a helpline offering a listening and signposting service.

Social Farming Opportunity in Greater Belfast Area

Social Farming is an innovative use of agriculture to promote therapy, rehabilitation, social inclusion, education and social services in rural areas. Within Social Farming, the farm is not a specialised treatment farm; rather the farm remains a typical working farm where people in need of support can benefit from participation in the farm’s activities in a non-clinical environment. It also creates the opportunity to reconnect farmers with their local communities through the opening up of their farms as part of the social support system of the community.

The Social Farming Across Borders (SoFAB) project (2011 – 2014) promoted Social Farming as a viable option for achieving improved quality of life for people who use health and social services as well as farm families, through enhancing social inclusion and connecting farmers with their communities. The project was a cross border EU INTERREG IVA Programme funded initiative, which piloted Social Farming on 20 farms – 10 farms in Northern Ireland and 10 farms in the border counties of the Republic of Ireland. In total, 66 participants (people with learning disabilities and those recovering from a mental health issue) engaged with the project, with on average 3 participants supported on each farm. The project produced evidence of the benefits for participants (empowerment; inclusion; self-actualisation) and farmers (personal development; work environment; farm family).

Since SoFAB finished in 2014, the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (DARD) has provided support for the continued development of Social Farming in Northern Ireland through the appointment of a Social Farming Service Co-Ordinator within Rural Support. Through this role, Rural Support will further develop the network of providers and users and provide new opportunities for individuals to avail of and benefit from Social Farming activities.

If you are a farmer in the Greater Belfast area and are interested in the concept of Social Farming, please contact Aoibeann on aoibeann@ruralsupport.org.uk, M: 07736 158983, T: 028 8676 0040.

Mid-Ulster Rural Befriending Project Underway

Rural Support wishes to remind those living within rural Mid-Ulster that support is available through its befriending project. The service is aimed at individuals from a farming or rural background, living within the Mid-Ulster Council area. Those who are experiencing isolation or loneliness whether it be as a result of a health problem, caring for another family member, living on their own, a lone parent, unemployment and lack of or no access to transport can avail of this service.

Deborah Gavin who is coordinating the project commented that ‘loneliness and isolation is a major issue for many people and particularly for those in later life. Feelings of isolation and loneliness can be further compounded if you live in a rural area.  With little or no access to public transport, services and many individuals living alone the feelings of loneliness can sometimes increase.  Some people can go days or weeks with no one to talk to.’

Rural Support hopes to alleviate some of this isolation and loneliness by providing regular contact to those who are feeling lonely. Individuals will be assigned a befriender, who are all Rural Support volunteers, and they will provide friendly conversation and companionship on a regular basis over a period of time.  Some befriending will be by telephone and some, where appropriate, will be home visits.

All volunteers have had Access NI checks carried out to ensure the safety of clients. All our volunteers are trained and highly skilled in providing specialist support in relation to rural and farming issues.  They can help you find further support in the local area through signposting and referrals to other organisations.

Since the project launched in September several individuals have already registered and benefited from the befriending support being provided. Befriending has numerous benefits for the individual.  Befriending increases confidence, helps reduce isolation and loneliness, creates new social links with many individuals going on to participate in other activities in the local community.

Rural Support offers a listening and signposting service for farmers and rural families across Northern Ireland.  Rural Support works to help farming and rural families deal with the challenges and to enjoy rural life.  Rural Support can help in the following ways:

  • Listening and emotional support
  • Farm business support
  • On-farm and home visits
  • Finance mentoring
  • Helping you find advice and access services
  • Developing Social Farming

If you are interested in availing of the befriending support or any of the above services currently being offered by Rural Support- then all it requires is an initial call to the helpline – 0845 606 7 607. All calls are confidential.  The helpline is available 8am to 11pm, seven days a week (voicemail and support options available at all other times).

On-Farm Business Mentoring Support

Rural Support is delighted to launch its on-farm business mentoring project.  The project will help Rural Support address the stress which farmers and farm families are currently under but also the impact which stress can have on an individual’s health and wellbeing.

The on-farm business mentoring is open to any farm business experiencing ongoing significant pressures.  Rural Support will be able to provide free, confidential, face to face support from a Business Mentor to analyse your current farm business position and help identify options and a way forward. This will include setting goals and measuring progress.  Rural Support will help you to develop an action plan for your farm and support you to take the steps needed to implement changes.

The effect of stress on an individual and the surrounding family should not be underestimated. Dealing with day to day farm business issues can be extremely stressful and makes it difficult to think about the future. Due to the current economic climate and market conditions, farm income is declining and inconsistent and in many cases farm business owners are struggling with their cash flow and finding it difficult to meet their liabilities. The pressure of this can have a detrimental effect on the physical and mental health of a person, making it difficult to think clearly. Symptoms of stress include disturbed sleep patterns, changes in appetite, unexplainable aches and pains and it can lead to depression. If you are experiencing stress you may have difficulty with concentration or memory and you might appear irritable or agitated. Sometimes if you are experiencing stress you might use alcohol or drugs to relax and at times you may feel overwhelmed and isolated. Often telling friends or family can seem impossible.  Rural Support wants to remind individuals that they do not have to face difficult circumstances alone.

For the past fourteen years Rural Support has continued to provide a listening and signposting service for farmers and rural families across Northern Ireland.  Rural Support’s volunteers are all from a rural background.  Among the volunteers are counsellors, retired farmers and individuals who have worked for the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development.  Our volunteers all understand the emotional drain, technical difficulties and isolation experienced by farming and rural communities.

Rural Support can provide practical and emotional support with regards to a variety of issues from farm business and financial issues to concerns about physical and mental health.  Rural Support urges anyone who is experiencing worry or stress regarding their farm business to contact their helpline to find out about how they can get help. The on-farm business mentoring is funded by The Prince’s Countryside Fund.

Clodagh Crowe, Project Co-ordinator states that, “It is important for farm family members to know that help is available through this on farm business mentoring. Asking for help is a sign of strength, a way of taking control. A mentor, experienced in agriculture will be appointed to support you to address concerns in relation to the future of your business to prevent those concerns from having a long term and serious effect on the well-being of those involved. I would urge those who feel that they could benefit from this non-judgemental and confidential support to contact us via our helpline.”

If you are interested in availing of the mentoring currently being provided by Rural Support then all it requires is an initial call to the helpline – 0845 606 7 607.  The helpline is available from 8am-11pm, seven days a week (voicemail and support options available at all other times).

Anam Cara – Support for Bereaved Parents

Anam Cara is an organisation that supports bereaved parents, Anam Cara support groups are situated throughout Ireland and provide parents a safe, comfortable environment where they have the opportunity to connect with other bereaved parents. Anam Cara is an inclusive organisation where parents do not identify themselves by their children’s age, how they died, or if their death was recent or many years ago. What Anam Cara provides is a safe place for bereaved parents to connect with others who understand the intensity of the grief and loss. Although Anam Cara does not offer counselling, each group has a lending library and information on the other services available to parents and families in the local community.

Anam Cara is holding its monthly Parent Evening on Wednesday 24th of February 2016 from 19:30 to 21:00 in the Armagh City Hotel, 2 Friary Road, Armagh, BT60 4FR (Weather Dependant). Anam Cara Services are available free of charge to all bereaved parents.

CavanaghKelly – Making a difference in rural communities

CavanaghKelly are delighted to announce a new two-year charity partnership with Rural Support, the Cookstown based charity formed in 2002 to provide support at challenging times to farmers, their families and the rural community as a whole. Rural Support’s trained volunteers and mentors provide support both face-to-face or via a confidential helpline. Assistance is available on business finance and debt, succession planning concerns, physical and mental health issues, farming paperwork, technical and enterprise issues and many other issues.

CavanaghKelly is one of Northern Ireland’s leading accountancy and business advisory practices, with offices in Dungannon, Belfast, Omagh and Enniskillen. With over 80 Advisors in Accounts,Tax, Restructuring, Corporate Finance, Forensics and Consultancy, the firm has a particular affiliation with Northern Ireland’s rural client base. The 3 Partners and staff are local to our offices and many of them are also from rural backgrounds; this means that our farming client base deal with advisors who genuinely understand and care about them and their specific needs. Announcing the firm’s partnership with Rural Support Gerard Gildernew, Partner in Cavanagh Kelly said:

“We recognise the essential service that Rural Support provides to these very important communities particularly in these challenging times; the charity continues to focus heavily on the rural and agri sector and as a result continues to face significant demands on the critical services it delivers presently; it is for these reasons that CavanaghKelly has chosen Rural Support as one of our two Charity Partners for 2016-17.”

Rural Support’s 2014/2015 Annual Report highlighted the number of farming families feeling financial pressures. In research conducted in September 2014, close to 90% of those surveyed felt there was a need for additional support in relation to farm debt. For 40% of callers in the previous year, farm finance was their main reason for getting in touch.

Clodagh Crowe, Project Co-ordinator commented, “Rural Support are delighted to have been chosen by Cavanagh Kelly as their corporate social responsibility partner. Cavanagh Kelly have a long standing history of supporting local charities and their generosity and commitment is much appreciated.”

As professionals in this field, CavanaghKelly will be working with Rural Support board and mentors to provide guidance and training around specialist financial areas. The financial pressures faced by farming families in the current challenging economic climate cannot be underestimated. If you do require assistance or are experiencing a challenging period, you are encouraged to contact Rural Support as early as possible so that options can be explored.

CavanaghKelly have long been supporters of quite a number of charitable organisations and community groups. Over the next two years, we want to be more targeted in our corporate social responsibility activities and have chosen Rural Support as 1 of our 2 named charities.

Contact Details:

Rural Support: Confidential helpline 0845 606 7 607 (Open 8am to 11pm, seven days a week; voicemail and support options available at all other times). www.ruralsupport.org.uk

CavanaghKelly: www.cavanaghkelly.com, 028 8775 2990.

GROW – Rural Business Investment Scheme Workshops

GROW South Antrim will be holding pre-application workshops for applicants intending to apply for the Rural Business Investment Scheme in Spring 2016.  The workshops will provide information on how to submit an application form, what to include in your application and will explain the assessment process.

For further information regarding the workshops click here

Bereavement Information Evening

Northern Ireland Children’s Hospice and Anam Cara, the organisation that provides support services to bereaved parents and families, are hosting a Bereavement Information Evening in Enniskillen.

For further information click here

Rural Support Invites a ‘Call to Action’ in Mid Ulster Council Area

Philip Rainey, chief-executive Simple Power with Jude McCann, chief-executive Rural Support.

Philip Rainey, chief-executive Simple Power with Jude McCann, chief-executive Rural Support.

Rural and farming charity, Rural Support, is calling on Mid Ulster Council residents, councillors and local businesses to attend the ‘Rural Support Roadshow – Call to Action’ as the charity rolls in to Tyrone next week for the second in a series of roadshows across Northern Ireland.

Supported by the charity’s CSR partner, local wind energy company, Simple Power, the ‘Rural Support Roadshow – Call to Action’ takes place at The Rowan Tree Centre, Pomeroy on Monday 14th March at 5pm.

Following the success of the first Roadshow in the Fermanagh and Omagh Council area, the charity is visiting other county council areas across Northern Ireland to meet with local communities to demonstrate the support services on offer by the charity through their dedicated helpline and mentoring programmes.

The event also offers attendees the opportunity to discuss ways in which the charity can further assist farmers and rural dwellers specifically in the Mid Ulster Area.

Rural Support Chief Executive, Jude McCann, reiterated the aim of the Roadshow events across Northern Ireland: “With mounting pressure on farmers and new challenges facing the rural community, the need for our services is greater than ever.”

“We are delighted to bring the Rural Support Roadshow to the Mid Ulster Council area and welcome all local residents, councillors, businesses and members of the rural and farming community in the Mid Ulster area to attend this event to meet with us and learn more about the charity an

d our services. We are also keen to hear from local people on ways in which we can further assist and improve support for farmers and rural dwellers in the area.”

“We would encourage all those attending the event to take up our call to action and pledge to support Rural Support and the services we offer. Whether this support is from financial assistance, awareness-building activities, volunteering or fundraising efforts, it all helps to improve our service offering and increase uptake of our services at a time when it is so greatly needed.”

Wind energy company, Simple Power, has been working with the charity for over two years to help deliver its much-needed support service to farming and rural communities throughout Northern Ireland by providing financial support and participating in joint fundraising and awareness building activities throughout the farming calendar.

Simple Power Chief Executive, Philip Rainey commented: “As partners to the farming and agricultural community, we are acutely aware of the difficulties facing farmers and believe that the charity plays a vital role in serving the farming community. We are proud to support the Rural Support Roadshows and assist the charity in getting out and about to meet local communities face-to-face to raise awareness of the charity in areas where their vital services are greatly needed. We are very proud of our partnership with Rural Support and look forward to continuing our working relationship and highlighting its message throughout Northern Ireland.”

The ‘Rural Support Roadshow – Call to Action’ takes place at The Rowan Tree Centre on Monday 14th March 2016 at 5pm and spaces are limited. To reserve your place at the event, email melissa@ruralsupport.org.uk.

Derry & Strabane Rural Partnership – Rural Business Investment Scheme Workshops

Derry & Strabane Rural Partnership

NORTHERN IRELAND RURAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME 2014-2020

 Rural Business Investment Scheme – Mandatory Pre-Funding Workshops

 Are you a rural business owner? Is your business investment ready?

If so then you could be eligible to apply for funding to the Rural Business Investment Scheme

 Derry and Strabane Rural Partnership is responsible for delivering LEADER funding throughout the Derry City and Strabane District Council area under the 2014 – 2020 NI Rural Development Programme.
The Rural Business Investment Scheme is the first funding scheme to open. New or existing rurally based micro/ small businesses and social economy enterprises involved in non-agricultural /non agri-food related activities may be eligible to apply.  Job creation and export potential are key objectives of this scheme which will primarily fund capital investments.

All businesses applying must attend one of the following mandatory pre application funding workshops to be eligible to make an application.

Date Venue
Monday 14th March at 6.30pm The Diamond Centre, Claudy
Wednesday 16th March at 1.00pm Strabane Enterprise Agency, Strabane
Monday 21st March at 2.30pm The Social Enterprise Hub, Derry
Monday 21st March at 6.30pm The Sollus Centre, Bready
Tuesday 22nd March at 2.30pm Derg Valley Leisure Centre, Castlederg
Wednesday 23rd March at 10.00am The White Horse Hotel, Derry

 

PLEASE NOTE: Individual(s) attending the workshop must be either the business owner or a director.

For further information and to book a place at one of the workshops please email rural.development @derrystrabane.com or phone Hazel Best at Derry City and Strabane District Council on 02871 253253.

Attendance at the funding workshop does not constitute an offer of funding. The application process will be competitive and not every application will be funded.

Single Application Form (SAF) – Guidance on completing your SAF Online

The 2016 Online Single Application Form (SAF) and maps service is now available – https://www.dardni.gov.uk/services/dard-online-services

If you have never registered with DARD online services before please call the SAF Advisory team on 03002007848 and one of our advisors will help you to get registered to enable you to take advantage of the online system. All of your claim data and maps are online now so why not go ahead and make your claim.

For applicants who applied online last year DARD will not be issuing paper SAF’s this year. For those applicants who applied on paper in 2015 DARD will be issuing paper SAF packs in late March. All applications must be received by 16 May 2016.

For further information visit www.dardni.gov.uk/news/complete-your-saf-2016-online

Stay Abroad Programme Magherafelt 2016

The Stay Abroad Programme is a community initiative in the Mid-Ulster area, where it is hoped to bring a group of secondary students, aged 12 to 16 from Spain to Magherafelt this July (2nd-29th).

The purpose of this programme is to help improve the student’s English language skills.

The leaders accompanying the group will organise sport, social and cultural activities as well as regular excursions in which local kids and host families could take part.

Would you and your family be interested in hosting a student?

Here you have a great opportunity to live with a foreign student and learn so many things from a different country while you show them about yours!

Each family will be paid an agreed fee for the student’s stay.  Arrangements can be made if you are working.

For more information or to register your interest please contact:       Simon Holmes  07719 292090

 

CSR Partners Pull into Mid-Ulster Council Area for ‘Call to Action’ Roadshow

Rural and farming charity, Rural Support, along with CSR partner, Simple Power, recently rolled into Mid Ulster Council for the ‘Rural Support Roadshow – Call to Action’  at The Rowan Tree Centre, Pomeroy, to discuss the charity and the work that it does in local council areas.

As part of a series of roadshows planned across Northern Ireland, Rural Support visited Pomeroy on Monday 14th March to reach out to the neighbouring Mid Ulster council area. The event was attended by members of the farming and rural community, local businesses and council ministers, including the Chair of Mid Ulster Council area, Councillor Linda Dillon, who met with Rural Support representatives to discuss ways in which the charity can assist farmers and rural dwellers in the area.

Supported by the charity’s CSR partner, local wind energy company, Simple Power, the event presented the support services on offer by the charity through their dedicated helpline and various programmes.

Rural Support Chief Executive, Jude McCann, commented: “We are delighted with the positive response we received to the ‘Rural Support Roadshow – Call to Action’ in the Mid Ulster Council area. With mounting pressure on farmers and new challenges facing the rural community, the need for our services is greater than ever and we value the opportunity to discuss at grassroots level how we can help and cater our services to all farming communities across Northern Ireland.”

“We appreciate the residents, councillors, businesses and members of the rural and farming community in the local area taking the time to attend the Roadshow event and meeting with us to learn more about the charity. Not only were we able to promote the charity and the work that we do, but we gained valuable insight into how we can further assist farmers and rural dwellers in the area.”

“We would like to thank everyone that attended and particularly those who have pledged to take up our call to action and support Rural Support and the services we offer. Whether this support is from financial assistance, awareness-building activities, volunteering or fundraising efforts, it all helps to improve our service offering and increase uptake of our services at a time when it is so greatly needed.”

Local wind energy company, Simple Power, has been working with the charity to help deliver its much-needed support service to farming and rural communities throughout Northern Ireland by providing financial support and participating in joint fundraising and awareness building activities throughout the farming calendar.

Simple Power Chief Executive, Philip Rainey said: “As partners to the farming and agricultural community, we are acutely aware of the difficulties they face and believe that the charity plays a vital role in serving the farming community. We have been working in partnership with Rural Support for over two years and we are delighted to support this important roadshow initiative and assist the charity in meeting with the harder-to-reach communities who may be able to avail of their services. We are very proud of our partnership with Rural Support and look forward to continuing our working relationship and highlighting its message throughout Northern Ireland.”

The Rural Support helpline 0845 606 7 607 is available 8am-11pm daily.

Rural Support Research – Health and Social Effects of Agricultural Downturn

Rural Support is currently carrying out research examining the effects of the current financial downturn within the agricultural sector on farmers and members of the farm family.

You can complete the questionnaire at the following link – https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1dCQJfcGM6ZEobOVW4vm_2kjPSEE7UThif9b_tXxHwYg/edit?usp=drive_web

The survey is designed to identify the effects of the recent financial downturn for the agricultural sector in Northern Ireland. We will ask for background details such as age, gender, marital status and your household size and composition. We will also ask for details of your experience of the downturn and the effect it has had on you, your family, your business and how you see the future.

The survey is created, carried out and analysed entirely by Rural Support staff and volunteers. Rural Support is an independent charity set up in 2002 In the wake of the foot and mouth crisis in order to provide a listening ear as well as advice, signposting and support for farmers and rural dwellers.

The information contained in the surveys is highly confidential and no identifying information will be shared with third parties under any circumstances. Thank you for your participation.

 

 

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