Together with the Prince’s Countryside Fund Trust, we brought together farm support charities for the Farm Support Group Initiative (FSGI) conference over two days at NFU HQ in Warwickshire.
Charities showcased the support they can offer farming communities and provided a forum to share best practice.
Covering all of the UK
The conference heard from all of the charities, the NFU, the Prince’s Countryside Trust and Defra Farming Minister Victoria Prentis.
Farming support charities covering all of the UK attended and included:
- Lincolnshire Rural Support Network
- Yorkshire Agricultural Society
- Field Nurse
- Exmoor Hill Farming Network
- Farm Cornwall
Supporting farming families
NFU Vice President David Exwood said: "The work done by charities under the FSGI is so important in supporting farmers and farming families and it was great to be able to host the conference in partnership with the Prince’s Countryside Fund."
Uncertain times
"Farmers are facing challenging and uncertain times at the moment," Mr Exwood continued, "and these organisations work hard to support the farming industry by offering advice and guidance.
"The charities are such an important part of the rural network, and the conference was a good way for the sector to come together, share resources and discuss how best to be there for rural communities at this unprecedented time."
Reach out
"I would urge anyone struggling with anything from mental or physical health to financial concerns, to reach out to the wide-ranging support groups in the FSGI directory," Mr Exwood concluded.
To find out more about the national and regional network of farm and rural support groups providing advice, guidance and assistance to farmers visit the FSGI directory.