SCHOOL EDITION 22 MARCH 2023 - Flipbook - Page 7
NEWS
FARMWEEK
JANUARY 28 2021
7
Rural Support secures lottery
funding for ‘Plough On’ project
R
URAL isolation and loneliness are a growing concern
within
Northern
Ireland, especially within
our farming community.
Family farms were traditionally
passed from one generation to the
next following the death of the older
farmer but as we live longer many
farms are now transferred over
within the current owner’s lifetime.
While this can bring benets, it
can also mean an increase in the
number of older farmers facing
social isolation and having a drastic
effect on emotional and physical
health, bringing with it a loss of
independence and support.
Many of our older farmers who
‘slow down’ in farming or retire
can also become increasingly
disengaged from normal farming life
such as visiting cattle markets, feed
stores, and auctions. Of course, the
Covid-19 restrictions have also had
a negative impact, where accessing
the marts, for example, has been
severely restricted for public health
reasons.
Recent research undertaken by
Rural Support within the farming
community indicates that this isn’t a
problem that is likely to go away with
almost a third of the respondents
being concerned with loneliness and
isolation and over a third worried
about the future.
To help address these concerns,
Rural Support has developed a
OPPORTUNITIES: The ‘Plough
On’ project aims to tackle rural
isolation and increase social
opportunities for older farmers.
project called ‘Plough On’ which
aims to tackle rural isolation and
increase social opportunities for
older farmers and has just secured
funding to deliver it. Its core
purpose is to improve mental
and physical wellbeing through
socialisation
and
participation
in rural heritage/farming-based
activities and excursions. Thanks
to National Lottery players, the
National Lottery Community Fund
is investing £428,000 over the next
ve years to cover its main delivery
costs.
Veronica Morris, Chief Executive
of Rural Support, said: “Providing
support for all members of the
farming family right across the age
spectrum is a core objective of Rural
Support and we know that isolation
and loneliness are of grave concern
amongst our older farmers and their
families.
“The ‘Plough On’ project provides
a tangible and practical way to
support those older farmers and
aims to bring them together with
like-minded people, helping them
to develop new networks and
knowledge. We are very grateful to
the National Lottery Community
Fund for their support in funding the
project and look forward to rolling it
out in April.
“This project is based on a pilot
project carried out by Cullybackey
GP Dr Hunter and Yvonne Carson,
Health & Wellbeing Team NHSCT,
from June 2016-February 2017.
“An independent evaluation noted
the distinctive approach to reaching
this under-represented target group
and the positive outcomes experienced by participants. We are
very appreciative of their work on
this and their ongoing support with
the project.”
Activities will include a range
of
educational,
learning
and
reminiscence opportunities – events,
projects and outings – encouraging
older men to connect on areas of
shared interest such as farming,
rural
heritage
and
history.
Participants will be involved from
the outset in the design and delivery
of activities, ensuring that the
programme develops in a way that
meets their needs and interests.
The focus will be on improving
health and wellbeing and will address social challenges, encouraging
individuals to get and stay well –
physically and emotionally. This
has a knock-on effect of improving
individual/community health outcomes whilst helping to alleviate
pressure on rural GPs and services.
Improved health and wellbeing for
older men also positively helps
other farm family members in terms
of respite, provides opportunities
for greater independence as well as
improving mood.
Kate Beggs, Northern Ireland
Director of the National Lottery
Community Fund, said: “Rural
isolation and loneliness is a
growing concern within the farming
community so we are delighted to
fund this vital project from Rural
Support which will have a positive
impact on the wellbeing of many
farmers and their families.”
This is a ve-year programme
which will be delivered in 17 distinct
rural communities across four HSC
Trust areas and will be ofcially
launched in April 2021.
For more information on this
project, or for more information
on other Rural Support services,
please contact the organisation
on 028 8676 0040 or email
info@ruralsupport.org.uk
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