Background
Rural Support provides a listening and signposting service for farmers and farming families across Northern Ireland through its support line. It can also provide face to face support, help with sourcing information and advice about a wide range of issues including:
- Help with family issues
Changing family circumstances such as relationship breakups or bereavement, planning for the future, whether it be making a will or considering retirement, can cause worry and stress. Having someone to talk to outside of the family can help.
- Help with health issues
Isolation, loneliness and lack of access to services can lead to feelings of stress and depression. Our volunteers understand the challenges and issues facing farmers and farm families. They have experience in helping individuals deal with various issues and providing support in making difficult decisions.
- Its Support Line (0800 138 1678) is available 9am-9pm, Monday to Friday (voicemail and support options available at all other times. Freephone from all UK landlines and mobiles).
- Rural Support provides free business, financial and technical mentoring from its dedicated team. It also runs a series of training workshops under the Royal Countryside Fund Farm Resilience Programme and delivers ‘Coping with the Pressures of Farming’ under the CAFRE Family Farm Key Skills Programme.
- ‘Across the Hedgerow’ project has been developed and will be delivered by the Rural Support team. All staff and volunteers are appropriately trained in speaking with vulnerable callers and have passed the appropriate AccessNI checks.
- Rural Support provides a Social Farming Support Service for Northern Ireland, funded by the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA).
- Rural Support is a registered charity with various income streams from government, philanthropic and corporate support. These include DAERA, Public Health Agency, The NFU Charitable Trust, Royal Countryside Fund as well as donations from the general public.
