A five-year programme to help the Farming Community Network (FCN) charity support farmers and their families through difficult times has been announced by Andoversford-based Agrii.

The 'Five to-Thrive' programme involves financial support for focussed FCN initiatives each year from 2017, annual activities at the company's extensive series of iFarm and other events.

It also includes business-wide assistance in raising awareness of the work and availability of the charity, its 400 volunteers and national telephone helpline.

Farming and dementia is the primary focus of the programme for the current season, with mental well-being, lone working, fit to farm, and sustainability and resilience being developed as key initiatives for subsequent years.

In addition to informative materials and widespread promotion, the Agrii programme will include a series of workshops led by FCN staff to help its nationwide team of agronomists, advisers and other customer-facing employees identify people in need and understand how to get them the right support.

Alongside this, the company will make a £1 donation to FCN for every entry into its 2017 Moved by the Countryside photography competition offering more than £1,000 of prizes and the opportunity for entrants to have their British countryside pictures published in the 2018 and 2019 Agrii calendars.

The winner of the competition, which is open until the end of September, will be chosen from shortlisted entries displayed at iFarm events this autumn and announced in November.

"We've been working with FCN for a number of years now," said Agrii marketing manager Immy O'Keeffe.

"So we know just how vital the quiet, generally unseen and highly personal support the charity provides to farming families with financial, physical, mental and relationship difficulties can be. And it will be more essential than ever in the run-up to and after Brexit.

"FCN's commitment to 'walking with' people to help them find a way through their difficulties and signpost them towards extra support and advice can be life-changing. But all too often those who most need to share their problems can't see where to turn for a helping hand or are reluctant to ask for it."

Picture credit: Pixabay