The Prince’s Countryside Fund launches National Directory of Farm and Rural Support Groups


Launched in July by The Prince’s Countryside Fund, the National Directory of Farm and Rural Support Groups lists 69 regional, national, and membership organisations who can provide support, advice, and guidance to people living and working in farming and rural communities.

Poor mental health is on the rise in rural and farming communities, so making support groups easy to find and accessible is vital. The directory signposts to support for those who might be in crisis or need support.

Keith Halstead, Executive Director of The Prince’s Countryside Fund said: “We are proud to be able to support UK farm support groups, both financially through our grant programme, and by highlighting the importance of their work in our National Directory of Farm and Rural Support Groups.

“Over the past year, through the work of our Farm Support Coordinator Diane Spark, we have been supporting these networks to share best practice, communicate more easily with each other, and advocate on their behalf to government and other bodies. Our aim for the future is to make these networks more sustainable and help them to grow, ensuring that all UK farmers can receive local help when desired.

“Thank you to our corporate partners for their backing of the National Directory of Farm and Rural Support Groups.”

Adam Henson, ambassador for The Prince’s Countryside Fund, has backed the directory with a message of support. Adam told us: “I’m very proud to be an ambassador for The Prince’s Countryside Fund. Tragically, one farm worker a week takes their own life, so I'm pleased to be helping launch and support the National Directory for Farm and Rural Support Groups. This pocket-sized directory means that if you come across people in the countryside who are struggling and need support, you can point them in the right direction.”

Originally created by YANA, a farming mental health charity working across Norfolk, Suffolk, and Worcestershire, the directory has been updated to include 21 new support groups.

You can download a copy of the directory at www.princescountrysidefund.org.uk/directory or request hard copies by emailing farmsupport@countrysidefund.org.uk