Vehicles donated by Pick-ups for Peace as part of the second convoy.

Forty-five vehicles have now been delivered over two trips and another 50 pledged. The original fundraising target of £100,000 has almost been reached, but will also be doubled to cover the cost of transporting the vehicles and bringing volunteer drivers back home.  In addition to the generosity of private individuals and groups providing vehicles, donating funds and volunteering to drive the trucks to Ukraine, corporate donations have also been received from in the form of a quad bike and ten generators from Springfield Properties, and four vehicles from Trinity Grain.

Trips are planned monthly until at least June, with around 30 vehicles in each convoy. April’s consignment will include two vans which are being converted into ambulances by paramedics at a Suffolk charity.

Vince Gillingham, co-founder of Pick-ups for Peace

Vince Gillingham, Pick-ups for Peace co-founder, who has just returned from delivering the second cohort of vehicles to Lviv, said “The war won’t wait, and we must do everything we can to help our friends in Ukraine. Our contacts there are overwhelmed by the generosity of all those who have given time, money, vehicles and urgent supplies for us to transport to the west of the country, however, we are agonisingly motivated to double our original target of 100 vehicles because Ukraine will take as many vehicles as we can send.

“The pick-ups we’ve delivered have already and continue to save countless lives as they transport injured troops from the frontline and ferry generators and food to those who need them, including hospitals. The vehicles must drive extremely fast over rough ground and under constant bombardment. This is a humanitarian call. Please help.”

Nicola Alexander of Cantyhall Farm, Fife, who also took part in the most recent trip, said “I just wanted to help in any way I could. I had been sorting out supplies for the first trip at a local depot wanted to do more.

“I feel so privileged to have taken part. Some of the soldiers we met in Ukraine were farmers like us; that is, until the war began. Hearing their stories of huge loss – of homes, friends, their children’s friends, and seeing the ever-growing burial site in Lviv, with newly-dug graves and their accompanying photos was so, so sad.

The second convoy to Lviv, 2023

“As we neared the border to go home, we had to get off the mini-bus and walk. There were miles and miles of vehicles leaving the country and you could see the sadness in the occupants’ faces; it completely took my mind off myself and my own problems and made me think about what’s going on in the world.

“I got involved in this trip through my husband’s friend, Mark Laird, who helped start P4P, but there were five ladies on the trip, including a good friend of mine, who jumped at the chance to join just a few days before we departed. We’re looking to get more girls on future trips. I felt incredibly safe the whole time I was there. A lot of people want to help support Ukraine but don’t know how. If you want to support Pick-ups-for-Peace you can help by donating or volunteering.”

Vehicles can be up to 15 years old and have more than 100,000 miles on the clock, however they need a valid MOT certificate and good tyres. The group are also seeking urgent supplies of quad bikes and dirt bikes, winter clothing, tarpaulins, spades, screen wash, diesel cans, jump leads, ratchet straps, spare fan belts, generators, tow slings, first aid kits, dry food goods, spare tyres, night vision equipment, spare batteries, old phones and cable ties of all sizes.

Information on how you can donate can be found here.

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Volunteering initiative Car for Ukraine, founded by Ivan Oleksii, sources and retrofits pickup trucks to support the war effort in Ukraine.

When Russia invaded Ukraine over a year ago, British farmer Charles Thompson, 69, knew he wanted to take direct action to support Ukraine – which eventually led him to Ivan Oleksii, who founded the volunteering initiative Car for Ukraine.

Made up of over 50 volunteers from across Europe, including the UK, Car for Ukraine retrofits vehicles for the Ukrainian army, using donated cars or raising funds to buy and modify the vehicles for battle. Since it was founded in March 2022, over 200 vehicles have been delivered to the frontline, worth roughly £1.3 million ($1.7m).

One donor recently gave a nearly new 2021 Ford Ranger with only 2,000 miles on the clock, Ivan says.

Over 1,065 lives have been saved evacuating wounded soldiers as well as through the provision of armoured vehicles, protecting soldiers from mortar shell damage.

Whilst the initiative has a network of volunteers in Europe who can collect and deliver donated vehicles, some choose to make the trip to Ukraine themselves. In fact, one volunteer has now made over 80 trips to the country.

Pictured is Car for Ukraine founder Ivan Oleksii (front row, centre), farmer Charles Thompson (back row, third from the left) and his brother Henry (back row, far left).

Heading to Ukraine

Having learned about Ivan’s work, Farmers Guide reader Charles bought a Mitsubishi L200 pick-up specifically to donate, and left his Hertfordshire farm for a three-day drive to Lviv, Ukraine with his brother, making up a convoy of five cars – three donated and two purchased by Car for Ukraine.

Among other supplies he also transported three donated generators, crucial at the time given the colder weather and intermittent access to electricity in Ukraine due to heavy Russian shelling.

Having arrived in Lviv earlier this year, Charles and his brother Henry saw the workshops where volunteer mechanics carry out repairs, install armour and add machine gun turrets to donated vehicles.

Describing the experience as “rewarding”, Charles subsequently bought a Nissan pickup and made a second trip to Lviv this month. He is hoping to encourage others to donate to the cause and has two more Mitsubishi L200s to deliver in the near future.

Pictured is the Mitsubishi L200 pickup donated by Charles Thompson, before and after it was retrofitted for the Ukrainian army.

Supporting the war effort

Originally from Kherson, southern Ukraine, which was occupied by Russia in March 2022, Ivan wanted to use his skills to help the war effort, including de-occupying Kherson where his family still resides.

Working in IT sales and partnerships, Ivan communicates with people around the world and felt he could utilise these skills to bring help to Ukrainian soldiers from across Europe.

Now based in Lviv, western Ukraine, he set up Car for Ukraine shortly after war was declared, when he realised the army had great need of vehicles. Car for Ukraine arranges the vehicle collection and/or travel paperwork and once vehicles arrive in Ukraine they are retrofitted in the workshop. Whilst mostly needed for battle, they may also be used for transporting supplies or carrying out evacuations.

Car for Ukraine recently hosted visitors from six different countries, who travelled to Lviv with vehicles to donate.

How to help Car for Ukraine

Whilst most vehicles are accepted, they need to be reliable and some preferred brands and models include the Mitsubishi L200 that Charles donated, Ford Rangers, the Nissan Navara (preferably not the D40 body type) and Toyota Hilux.

In addition to the vehicles, much needed supplies include major trauma first aid kits, warm clothing, tinned food, generators, drones and thermo-vision binoculars.

This month, Car for Ukraine has also launched a new project, the ‘People’s Ramstein‘ – which is a reference to the Ramstein Air Base in Germany where NATO countries meet to discuss the support required for Ukraine. Car for Ukraine is looking to raise $50,000 (approx. £40,157) to cover the cost of retrofitting 25 cars for the frontline.

As well as donating money to the cause it’s now possible to donate a car on the Car for Ukraine website. For more information visit www.car4ukraine.com/donate-car

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The Pick-ups for Peace group lined up from the oldest to the youngest participant.

The farmers and others working in the agricultural sector have just delivered their first consignment of 22 4×4, vehicles to Lviv in western Ukraine, where they are being used to ferry injured and dead soldiers from the front line to hospitals. 

The group are planning monthly missions until June with the aim of sending at least 100 vehicles. They are eager to hear from anyone who could donate an old pick-up or other 4x4s, as well as money to help get the vehicles to Ukraine. 

Pick-ups for Peace volunteers in Ukraine.

Vehicles can be up to 15 years old and have more than 100 miles on the clock, but need a valid MOT and good tyres. It costs around £1,200 to transport each vehicle and provide accommodation and transport for the volunteer drivers back to the UK. 

Volunteers on the most recent trip came from farming communities all around the UK, the youngest participant being 18 years old and the oldest 76. 

The project is spearheaded by Vince Gillingham and Mark Laird, both of whom have strong connections to Ukraine.  

Vince Gillingham said: “Ukraine is under attack, and they are desperately short of four-wheel-drive non-military vehicles which are crucial to get food and medicine to their troops. We have plenty of these vehicles in the UK.  

“It is so inspiring to see the good in the people who have given their vehicles, time and money to this project. It gives you a lot of hope for the world to see an 18-year-old who has only just passed his test driving all the way to Ukraine. 

“I know Ukraine well but for most of our travelling companions it was their first visit, and it was remarkable to see how strong the cultural connections were. Our Ukrainian contacts could not believe that the UK farming community would do this for them. I urge anyone who can donate a vehicle or money to help us buy vehicles and pay other expenses for these missions to get in touch.” 

The volunteers visited the graves of fallen soldiers in Lviv.

Mark Laird said: “Be in no doubt, these vehicles are saving lives, and Ukraine will take as many as we can send them. Ukraine is a farming nation, and many UK cereal producers have done well this year on the back of high grain prices and would like to give something back.  

“I have worked in Ukraine for much of my professional life, and love the country and its extremely clever and friendly people. Please help us with this humanitarian gesture – anything that we can do to help as farmers is invaluable.” 

You can donate to Pick-Ups for Peace at: Crowdfunding to Support Ukraine’s Aid Effort on JustGiving.

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The company has so far provided more than $500,000 in emergency funding for humanitarian projects, including $300,000 for Global Giving, a non-profit US organization which facilitates donations for grassroots charitable projects.

In addition, $100,000 was donated to the Global Foodbanking Network, helping to meet the immediate humanitarian needs related to food in the wake of the disaster, and $100,000 was used to provide water, food, tents, containers, portable toilets, gloves, blankets and other essentials to those in need.

Further donations came via an emergency response employee giving campaign, which has so far raised more than $40,000.

“This is a heartbreaking time for Turkey, with thousands of people dead and millions displaced, homeless, and in need of critical food and other supplies,” said Harun Toksoz, Corteva Agriscience Turkey Country Leader. He added: “We are pleased to be able provide the much-needed support to those who need it during this difficult time. Our Turkish colleagues are also coordinating relief efforts for those affected and I can only commend their dedication and resilience. These are very difficult days for Turkey and my thoughts and deepest condolences are with those who have lost their lives and homes in this horrific disaster.

“We are continuing to support our employees and their families in Turkey, as well as providing humanitarian assistance to communities, growers and business partners in need. We stand alongside farmers in the impacted region and will continue to assist them for as long as is helpful.”

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Ms Ledbury and her husband were hit hard by TB on their Oxfordshire dairy farm in 2022, losing 60 out of 120 cows to the devastating disease.

To keep the business afloat, she has been selling milk and milkshakes in Jeremy Clarkson’s shop and was also going to be a supplier to his restaurant which was later denied planning permission.

Moved by her appalling situation, Clarkson’s Farm viewer Rebecca Poole set up a GoFundMe campaign to raise money for the business. In the campaign’s description, she wrote:

“(…) Having watched the program Clarkson’s Farm Season Two, I was appalled by the current situation facing British farmers. How can our farmers be working all hours for little or no pay in one of the richest countries in the world?”

In a short span of two weeks, the fundraiser reached £37,474 of its £40,000 goal, thanks to the generous donations of 2,400 supporters. Ms Ledbury said she was overwhelmed by the kindness and support of fans on an instalment of Steph’s Packed Lunch this Wednesday (1^st March).

“It was a real shock,” she admitted. “We found out this lovely lady called Beccie, whom we’d never met before, a total stranger had set up a GoFundMe page after seeing my story on Clarkson’s Farm.”

To extend the support to all farmers struggling in the same boat, Ms Ledbury decided to donate some of the funds to the mental health charity RABI that offers a 24/7 helpline and access to in-person counselling for farmers across England and Wales.

“I think this is a fantastic idea and a fabulous opportunity to show ALL farmers how much we support them,” Rebecca Poole wrote on the campaign’s page.

Commenting on the donation, Paul Pirie, head of fundraising at RABI, said: “Following the incredible response to Rebecca Poole’s appeal to support dairy farmer Emma Ledbury, we are delighted that Emma has chosen to donate some of the monies raised to RABI.

Mr Pirie acknowledged the public response to the challenges highlighted by Emma in Clarkson’s Farm 2 has been “overwhelming”. “We thank Rebecca and Emma for their support of RABI and for this incredible donation, which will help us to help even more farming people,” he added.

To donate and make a difference to British farmers, visit Ms Ledbury’s fundraiser here.

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While they devoted their time to farming, Emyr and Evelyn put off plans to travel, spend holidays in their caravan and go on walking adventures in the British countryside – all of which they planned to do when they retired.

Tragically, not long into their retirement, Evelyn was diagnosed with ovarian cancer and passed away aged 69 in 2015.

Emyr, who lives at Deytheur, Llansantffraid, on the Powys-Shropshire border, immediately pledged to do something positive to combat ovarian cancer, as a tribute to her.

He also wanted to support farmers in need, due to the couple’s long connection with the farming community.

Emyr started The Old Stackyard British Blues, a small, closed breeding herd of pedigree British Blue cattle, in 2016. It is the only charity herd of its type in the UK, as all the money raised from the sale of the cattle over the past seven years has been shared between the two charities.

To date, he has raised more than £121,000 for the charities by selling cattle from the herd and books he has written.

Charity herd goes on sale

In another unfortunate twist of fate, 78-year-old Emyr was seriously injured by one of his bulls whilst preparing it for a sale in Carlisle last month.

He is lucky to be alive after the “spooked” bull crushed and trampled him, leaving him with a badly injured leg and broken ribs. His niece, Laura Pritchard, who has helped with admin since the herd was established, rescued Emyr from the pen where he was attacked.

Due to his injuries, Emyr has now decided to sell his herd of 33 cattle. What started as “a small initiative with a big ambition to fulfil a dream” will end at Shrewsbury Auction Centre on 4^th March. Emyr is hoping to raise £100,000 for the two charities when the herd is sold by auctioneers Halls in its annual sale of British Blue Cattle.

Emyr says his charity project has exceeded his expectations. “Evelyn and I built up a dairy herd and we managed to be successful only by hard work and much self-sacrifice, with the business needs always coming first,” he explains.

“Our plans to travel and to enjoy caravan holidays and walking in the beautiful British countryside, which we both loved, were put on hold until our retirement. It was a devastating blow to learn in the first few years of our retirement that Evelyn had ovarian cancer.

“She was a very special lady, kind, caring and multi-talented. After a lifetime of work, the majority of her retirement years were stolen from her. Whilst tragically too late to help my dear Evelyn, I had to do something to help combat this evil disease, as a tribute to my wife.”

An “amazing achievement”

Both Ovarian Cancer Action and RABI have paid tribute to Emyr’s “exceptional” generosity, and the “astounding” sum of money raised for the charities.

Claire Lubbock, Ovarian Cancer Action’s community and events manager, said: “At Ovarian Cancer Action, we are extremely grateful for the incredible funds Mr Wigley has raised for our charity with over the years, all in memory of Mrs Dilys Evelyn Wigley.

“As the UK’s leading ovarian cancer research charity, this amazing and generous support has allowed us to focus on fuelling the breakthroughs we need in order to save the lives of more women – mothers, daughters, sisters and wives.

“Mr Wigley is possibly our first and last supporter who has sold pedigree cows to raise funds, but his incredible inventiveness, enthusiasm and sheer hard work has made a big difference to what we do at Ovarian Cancer Action.

“To have raised £122,000 to support both our charity and RABI is exceptional, and it is with sadness and huge gratitude that we approach this final sale. This sale is hoped to raise enough to fund a specialist researcher for an entire year.

“This represents a big step closer to our goal of making ovarian cancer survivable for all women. We cannot thank Mr Wigley enough for everything he has done for us.”

National charity RABI provides local support to farming communities across England and Wales, offering guidance, financial support, practical care and mental health counselling.

Kate Jones, RABI’s regional manager for the West Midlands, said: “RABI is so fortunate to have such wonderful supporters, especially Emyr Wigley. The money Emyr has raised is being used to support the farming community when they need it most.

“Representatives from the Montgomeryshire and Shropshire RABI committees will be present at The Old Stackyard Blues dispersal sale on March 4 and we wish Emyr and Laura all the best.

“The sale will mark the end of an astounding chapter – such an amazing achievement. The positive impact the money he has raised has made and will continue to make on those struggling in the farming community is beyond comprehension.”

To make a donation to Ovarian Cancer Action, go to: https://donate.ovarian.org.uk/ .

To donate to RABI, go to: https://rabi.org.uk/donate/

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Every year, poor mental health leads to fatal accidents and suicide attempts among those working in the agriculture industry. According to research led by the Farm Safety Foundation, 94% of UK farmers under 40 rank mental ill-health as the greatest hidden issue facing farmers today.

Therefore, this year’s campaign comes at a time when there is consensus in the farming community that mental health in the sector is deteriorating. Emma Haley, charity manager at YANA (You Are Not Alone), confirmed the organisation has seen an increase in farmers needing support over recent years.

“Calls into YANA’s helpline have increased significantly over the last two years, with 40% more calls received in 2022 compared to the previous year.

“Specifically, there has been an increase in people calling because they are concerned about someone. This is important because it can be daunting and isolating when living with someone who is struggling. It is often the first step to the person seeking help themselves,” she added.

While farmers are resilient by nature and are used to dealing with factors outside of their control on a day-to-day basis, the challenges can become overwhelming when too many uncertainties are present for a prolonged period of time, Ms Haley pointed out.

She reminded farmers that at times like these, it’s not uncommon for people to need a “little extra help” to get back on track.

“The most common cause for people seeking help is due to experiencing feelings of stress, anxiety, and depression. However mental health affects all aspects of life and so we also see people calling in due to relationship or work issues, bereavement and finance related problems,” she revealed.

Meanwhile, Alex Phillimore, head of communications and development at The Farming Community Network (FCN), said cases presented to the charity have been increasingly complex in recent years, and FCN has been working alongside other stakeholders to help farmers find a positive way forward.

“We see some common themes emerging in many cases we are supporting on, including mental ill-health, family relationship issues and family concerns. No two cases are the same, but we do find that many are concerned about the future, anxious about uncertainty and market pressures, and worried about the long-term sustainability of the farm business in a changing industry,” he revealed.

Mr Phillimore also emphasised the importance of communities and the wider public supporting the essential work farmers are doing every day to put food on the nation’s table.

“[…] We know that prolonged periods of stress and anxiety can negatively impact both our physical health and our mental health, and we need to ensure that farmers, growers and all in the supply chain are given the respect and support needed to thrive. We all rely on farmers three times a day.”

“A problem shared is a problem halved”

Among the objectives of the Farm Safety Foundation’s Mind Your Head campaign are continuing to break down the stigma attached to poor mental health in farming and encouraging those living and working in the sector to look out for each other.

Farmers supporting farmers and acting upon early signs of anxiety or depression is gaining increasing prominence as the industry continues to take lives through work-related accidents each year.

In 2021/2022, a total of 22 farm worker deaths have been recorded in the HSE Fatal Injuries in Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing in GB report, while an even more disheartening 36 suicides were registered in England and Wales among the farming industry in 2021 (Office of National Statistics).

Addressing those struggling to cope or worried about a colleague or family member, Ms Haley from YANA said: “The best thing you can do is find someone you trust to talk to or reach out to one of the support charities to speak to someone neutral.

“Think about the things you can control and try to make small positive changes. This could be things like how you spend your spare time, who you spend it with, your reactions, how well you are eating. These are all things that can help to cope better.”

When noticing changes in someone’s behaviour that indicate they might be struggling, Ms Haley said the best course of action is to ask the person if they are struggling and not just accepting the first response.

“Explain why you are concerned, and any changes you have noticed. Most importantly, let them know you are there to listen if they want to talk, then check in on them every now and then. It can take a while for someone to talk but your consistent messages will make a difference,” she stressed.

On the same note, Alex Phillimore emphasised the sooner someone asks for help, the sooner charities like FCN can help resolve the situation.

“Sometimes people feel they’d be a burden, or feel guilty about asking for help. But the truth is that there is immense strength in being able to let people in, admit things aren’t going so well, and talk about it.

“We need to normalise asking for help early, remind people we’re part of a community that is supportive and looks after its own, and that there are many people out there who are here to listen, support and help – including FCN volunteers,” he added.

Mr Phillimore encouraged farmers to share their burden and remember they are not alone. Finally, he urged those worried about a family member, friend or colleague, to take action.

“Remind people that a problem shared is a problem halved, and that none of us should be shouldering our burdens alone. Learn about the signs and symptoms of mental ill-health and let people know about the support that is out there.”

Both FCN and YANA offer various forms of support to those involved in the agriculture industry, delivered by trained personnel who understand the pressures in farming.

The FCN helpline 03000 111 999 is open between 7am to 11pm every day of the year, and the YANA helpline 0300 323 0400 can be contacted 24/7.

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Tom’s father, Matthew Hitchcock of Hitchcock Farms.

A farmer of over 40 years, Tom’s father, Matthew Hitchcock of Hitchcock Farms in Elmsett, was forced to retire early due to ill health. In February 2020, he was diagnosed with an aggressive form of motor neurone disease (MND) and lost his life to the condition six weeks later on 14^th March.

To honour his memory and raise awareness of this life-shortening disease, Tom has resolved to take on the climbing challenge along with five friends in aid of charity.

MND is a debilitating condition that often goes undiagnosed and affects the nervous system, causing muscle failure and eventual death. Due to the progressive decay of motor neurons that transmit impulses from the brain, basic functions such as swallowing and breathing will become unachievable without assistance.

Unable to communicate, the sufferer will become trapped in their own body and will be completely dependent on the support of others. While research has improved the understanding of the condition, no cure has been found for MND to date.

As part of his fundraiser, Tom and his companions will be attempting the Three Peaks Challenge as a winter climb on the 24th, 25th and 26th of March. The group will ascend the Scottish peak Ben Nevis (1345m) on the first day, followed by Scafell Pike (978m) on the second day, and conclude the challenge with Snowdon (1085m) in Wales.

“I feel that this is an appropriate challenge as when I was younger, my father used to take us to Wales and we walked up Snowdon, and Devils Cauldron as well as a few other peaks in the Snowdonia national park as a family on holiday,” Tom wrote on his JustGiving page.

In the first month of launching the fundraiser, the campaign has reached 90% of its £2,020 target, which has been set in memory of the year Tom’s father passed away. However, Tom is hoping to at least double that target, and with his father being a lifelong farmer, he now turns to the farming community for support.

To make a donation, visit Tom Hitchcock’s fundraising page on justgiving.com. All proceedings will go to the MND Association which funds care, campaigning and research to achieve a world free from MND.

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Organised by local father and son team Gavin and Jack Stammers, the tractor run departs from the Angel Inn in Larling every year and proceeds along a 20-mile route over tracks and farmland before returning in the early afternoon.

Now in its 17^th year, the festive event was founded by local businessmen David Boggia and David Kidd and has raised over £40,000 to date for local charities. Speaking to Farmers Guide, Suzanne Webb, who is involved in the organising and running of the event, provided more details.

According to Ms Webb, the Larling tractor run initially featured classic/vintage vehicles and has been extended over the years to include modern tractors. The decision has resulted in more participants taking part, specifically young farmers who tend to own newer machinery.

The event featured a mixture of vintage, classic and modern tractors.

The event has always departed from the Angel Inn at Larling, owned by the Stammers who also farm the surrounding lands. Each year, a local farmer volunteers to provide the halfway point for the run, offering parking and refreshments to participants, Ms Webb said.

In 2022, Raker Farms of John and Melinda Raker served as the stopping point for the parade. Ms Raker, the founder and a patron of YANA, the charity benefitting from the event, was delighted to be hosting.

“It was extraordinary seeing this long stream of tractors, from the vintage ones at the front to the very modern ones at the back, coming into the farmyard and parking there. It was a wonderful display of tractors,” she recalled.

“It was also a chance for me to speak to a lot of the people and participants attending, which gave me a bit of a chance to talk to individuals about the charity as well.”

Vehicles displaying festive decorations added to the Christmas spirit.

Alongside the 198 tractor drivers, hundreds of locals came to watch the spectacle and enjoy a nice day out with their families. Visitors enjoyed climbing into tractors and taking photos, and there was an all-around cheerful atmosphere among the crowd, Ms Webb remarked.

With tractors lining the road for three-quarters of a mile, some displaying festive decorations, the event made for an impressive sight. Setting off at 10 am amid cheering onlookers, the parade returned to the Angel Inn around 2 pm, Ms Webb said.

Tractors lined the roads near the Larling Angel for three-quarters of a mile.

From donations and the £20 per tractor entry fee, a total of £4,600 was raised for this year’s chosen charity YANA. Ms Webb explained proceedings from the tractor run always go to a local charity with a connection to agriculture and rural communities.

Following the event, organiser Gavin Stammers extended his thanks to Agrovista and Agrikel for their contribution towards the plaques received by drivers at the end of the run, as well as Corteva Agriscience for providing the vehicle numbers.

Following departure, the parade shortly turned onto dirt tracks and farmland.

Funded by the community, for the community: the impact of YANA

Launched by Melinda Raker DL in 2008 as part of the Norfolk farming charity the Clan Trust, YANA was initially a mental health project that developed into a charity in its own right. In an interview with Farmers Guide, Ms Raker shared more about the work of the organisation and why the funding and awareness raised at the Larling event is so important.

The primary mission of YANA is to promote mental health awareness among agricultural and other rural businesses in East Anglia. The organisation offers fully-funded counselling sessions, Menta Health First Aid (MHFA) training courses, useful resources and a dedicated helpline to those in need.

Ms Raker said that while the charity is always grateful to receive funding, the awareness raised at the Larling tractor run has been even more valuable: “The more people know about YANA, the more people we can help.”

“The 198 participants to the event meant that so many more people took away a leaflet or they got stickers and they know what we do,” she added.

YANA has recently expanded its work in Essex and Cambridgeshire and has 27 counsellors providing service. Calls for its helpline have increased 71% in the last year, highlighting the relevance and need for mental health support in farming.

However, Ms Raker stressed there are no plans for the charity to become national.

“We think it’s really important to know our rural communities, how farming ticks in our area, and by being small enough, we can still be very agile in the decisions we make.”

Speaking of the difference funding can make to the charity’s work, Ms Raker said:

“Financially, £50 pays for an hour of counselling. £300 would pay for a series of counselling sessions and that can be life-changing for someone and also have a positive impact on their colleagues and their family and friends. £350 would pay for a place on one of our fully-funded Mental Health First Aid courses. £4,000 would pay for a complete course for 10 or 12 people.

“And so the money that Larling Angel have raised will be put to immediate use for counselling or one of our courses.”

According to Ms Raker, over 270 people from rural businesses have received training from YANA’s MHFA course so far. She said that while mental health first aid is becoming more common in the UK, it has not yet spread far in the rural sector.

“Most businesses will have a first aider, but we are trying to get a mental health first aider into as many rural businesses as we can, so that people who had that training can spot the signs of poor mental health and support their friend or colleague and signpost them to the relevant support.

“It’s our aim to expand mental health first aid in the rural sector and we’ve trained young farmers, people from charities, CLA, NFU, rural churches, grain merchants, land agents, accountants, and solicitors,” she added.

Lastly, to illustrate impact YANA’s counselling sessions can have on those who are struggling, Ms Raker quoted the message from a thank you card received by the charity recently: “My son was down and suicidal, but thanks to the counselling that he had from YANA, I still have my son today.”

To find out more about YANA, its services or to make a donation, visit: https://www.yanahelp.org/

Those in need of support or with concerns regarding a family member, colleague or friend can call the charity’s confidential helpline 0300 323 0400 or email helpline@yanahelp.org.

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Members who have joined the recently launched programme include farmers and other individuals of different backgrounds who work in the agricultural industry and understand the challenges faced by farming over the coming years.

All Lookouts receive basic training on recognising the early signs of depression and anxiety and offering support to those in need, delivered by national charity The Farming Community Network (FCN).

The main concept behind the group is that if a volunteer notices a neighbour, friend or family member struggling, they can encourage that individual to seek help and point them in the right direction.

While the Lookouts primarily act as a point of contact for the community, they can also provide support in the form of farm visits, advice over the phone, and referral to the NHS mental health service.

According to Public Health Dorset, the farming community in Dorset is at a high risk of experiencing mental health issues, which prompted FCN volunteer Nick Viney to assemble the group.

“We know that early intervention is so important – the sooner we recognise that we may need help and start talking, the better the outcomes,” he said.

“There is still stigma in farming about mental health and people often adopt the ‘tough as old boots’ approach. But recognising we all need help at some point and that seeking support is a strength, not a weakness, is very important.”

FCN will continue to support and monitor the Dorset Lookouts group and encourage the local community to take part.

The initiative has already been promoted to numerous companies and organisations involved with farming in the area, such as veterinary practices, Agri machinery dealers, and feed companies that are all well positioned to pick up on concerning signs and refer back to the Lookouts.

Charmain Dascombe, FCN’s regional support officer in Dorset, elaborated on how the charity will be working with the group:

“This is very much a farming-led initiative. FCN will provide training to the group and ensure that Lookouts are closely aligned with our Helpline and local volunteers who can provide more specialist support if required. The Lookouts will form an important ‘first-responder’ role alongside FCN volunteers.”

Hiding in plain sight: farmer with personal experience joins Lookouts group

Dorset farmer Trevor Cligg of Pipplepen Farm struggled with mental health for many years, which prompted him to get involved with the Lookouts initiative. He explained that while farming can be a wonderful job, the industry is going through a period of change which can be challenging to manage for many farmers.

“There is a strong community spirit in farming and we need to look out for each other over the next few years as we adapt to a set of new rules and policies. Knowing the signs that someone might be finding things difficult and being able to start a conversation and connect that person with support will be really important.

“Depression and anxiety can happen to anyone and those experiencing poor mental health are often hiding in plain sight. Recognising the signs early before a person reaches crisis point is crucial,” he stressed.

Speaking to Farmers Guide, Mr Cligg revealed some of the most common triggers of mental health issues in farming. These include bovine TB, the pressures of farm assurance and inspections, financial constraints and also isolation.

Moreover, he said that while the wider community is generally quite supportive of farmers, the government has been putting considerable strain on the industry and created many of the challenges farmers struggle with today.

“We, as farmers, feel constantly torn in different directions because we have a government that wants us to produce more, from less, for less, which is a constant pressure,” he said. There is also the pressures of improving animal welfare and environmental impact, which farmers have to be compensated for, he added.

To improve the current situation, Mr Cligg believes farmers need clear government policy as it is uncertain where the industry is heading at present. Retailers also have a part to play, he says, especially when it comes to paying a fair price for produce to avoid food shortages.

Alongside providing support to the farming community, organisations like the Lookouts or the FCN play a vital role in raising awareness of the issues experienced by farmers, which Mr Cligg hopes will put more pressure on the government and retailers to take action.

“If we can save a life, it will be worth it”

Last but not least, Mr Cligg wished to highlight the fact that farming has a reputation for being the most dangerous industry to work in. But while many people perish in on-farm accidents, statistics show that even more take their own lives, which is lesser known in the wider community.

As part of its annual Mind Your Head campaign, the Farm Safety Foundation highlighted statistics showing that 133 people in UK agriculture took their own lives in 2019-20. The figures were originally published by the Office of National Statistics and illustrate the scale of mental health issues facing British farming.

Mr Cligg went on to point out that poor mental health can also be the cause of accidents in agriculture. He explained that when farmers are feeling really down, they often don’t take care when they should and cut corners, which can lead to a tragedy.

However, the more people can open up about mental health and are able to share their experiences, the easier it will be for others to do the same, he added. Poor mental health should be treated like any other illness, and those struggling should be encouraged to seek professional help before it is too late.

As many will not seek help for the fear of being shamed, the Lookouts have been set up to make the process easier. “We certainly can’t help everybody, but if we can help a few, it will be worth it,” Mr Cligg concluded.

Lookouts will be active at local events and shows in Dorset throughout 2023.

If you would like to become a Lookout in your local community, find out more about the role, or are concerned about someone, please call 03000 111 999 and mention Dorset Lookouts, or email help@fcn.org.uk and you will be connected to the group.

More information about the Lookouts project is available via the FCN website at: https://fcn.org.uk/lookouts/

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