CHURCHES TOGETHER IN CHESHIRE

Farming as an occupation has one of the highest rates of suicide. Cheshire Agricultural Chaplaincy has been working with the community since 2000 supporting and developing mental health resilience.

Cost of living support for rural families

Winter hardship Support for clients in Cheshire East Borough

COVID-19 Response - Cheshire West Farming Communities support

During the crisis we are are maintaining contact: Telephone/Text/Email/Video link support for clients with a variety of difficulties, including mental health issues; this is a major part of our usual work, and we expect to see an increase in need ....more

During the crisis we are are maintaining contact: Telephone/Text/Email/Video link support for clients with a variety of difficulties, including mental health issues; this is a major part of our usual work, and we expect to see an increase in need for mental health support during the current crisis and enforced isolation of individuals. Our staff and volunteers who are not themselves vulnerable, are offering to shop & deliver for the more vulnerable clients that we have. Provision and delivery of food and other essential items as hampers to clients in financial difficulty as a direct result of the Coronavirus crisis.

We want to continue our work with rural communities to reduce loneliness and isolation, and help prevent mental health issues.

Cheshire Agricultural Chaplaincy Team covers the whole of Cheshire & Wirral offering 24:7 support to the farming community with a listening ear for as long as required, pastoral support and ability to bring in supporting agencies when required. ....more

Cheshire Agricultural Chaplaincy Team covers the whole of Cheshire & Wirral offering 24:7 support to the farming community with a listening ear for as long as required, pastoral support and ability to bring in supporting agencies when required. Farming as an occupation has one of the highest rate of suicide, many farmers are suffering with difficult issues like financial pressure, isolation, adverse weather conditions, family disputes, government regulations and inspections, administration, poor harvests & livestock disease all combined with long hours of work; all this contributes to serious levels of hopelessness and depression, some thinking of self-harm - we are uniquely placed to deliver this support understanding the language of farming and the issues farmers face, and are available to farmers and all allied workers in the industry. We currently have one paid head chaplain and a small team of volunteer chaplains, and there is currently insufficient capacity to take on new clients, at a time when the demand for the work of the team in crisis counselling is increasing - we would use funding to employ a Part-time Assistant Chaplain. Our work with clients combined with a social programme offers support and a life-line to many.

They will provide 24:7 support for the farming community. Peer support events will be delivered for farmers who have mental health issues and for farmers who are gay who can feel very isolated in a very traditional working environment. The support ....more

They will provide 24:7 support for the farming community. Peer support events will be delivered for farmers who have mental health issues and for farmers who are gay who can feel very isolated in a very traditional working environment. The support will be provided through a series of lunches giving a space where farmers can meet and share their stresses with others who understand in a confidential and safe environment. The project aims to reduce the high rates of suicide linked to this occupation