'˜Do you need a break?' prize winners

At this year’s Balmoral Show, Rural Support joined forces with the Health and Safety Executive for Northern Ireland (HSENI) and the Farm Families Health Checks Programme to highlight important health and safety issues facing the farming community.

The joint stand offered a wide range of information and advice for farmers, and their families, to help them stay safe and healthy on the farm.

Rural Support chief executive Jude McCann said: “It has been an extremely difficult and challenging time for farmers and members of the farm family. We were delighted to join HSENI and the Farm Families Health Checks Programme to raise awareness of the importance of looking after both our physical and mental health. Every farmer’s performance is affected by his or her level of health, fitness and happiness. Farmers need to see that they are the most important asset and that they need to take care of themselves.”

At this year’s show visitors to the stand were able to enter Rural Support’s ‘Do you need a break?’ prize draw competition. The prize was for an overnight stay for two people at the Slieve Donard Resort and Spa in Newcastle with dinner in the hotel’s Percy French restaurant and breakfast the following morning.

There were two vouchers up for grabs which were kindly sponsored by CSR partners CavanaghKelly and Simple Power. The draw took place at the Rural Support office and two lucky entry forms were drawn.

The winners were Ruth Culbertson, of Gartross Poultry in Moira, and Jennifer Bradley, from Victoria Bridge.

Jude McCann further commented: “Rural Support would like to sincerely thank our CSR partners CavanaghKelly and Simple Power for so kindly sponsoring the prizes for the competition. The winners were absolutely delighted to have been drawn and to have won such a fantastic prize. During such challenging times it is important to remember to take time out for ourselves and we are so appreciative to Simple Power and CavanaghKelly for enabling us to provide such an opportunity for the two winners.”

In terms of help, staff, mentors and volunteers walk side-by-side with people in times of difficulty. Rural Support help farm businesses to manage change, bring hope to the situation and do what they can to secure the sustainability of farmers, farmers who are and remain the backbone of the industry and indeed the wider agri-food sector.

If you or someone you know could benefit from speaking to Rural Support please telephone the helpline - 0845 606 7 607. The helpline is available from 8am-11pm, seven days a week (voicemail and support options available at all other times).