Farmers’ Clubs, established by the Tir Dewi charity to provide social opportunities for farmers and their families to attend regular activities in the community, are going from strength to strength and the intention this year is to establish more clubs to build on their success.
Tir Dewi established the clubs with the aim of reducing isolation amongst people who work in the agricultural industry, and to improve their mental health and wellbeing as a result. The organisation received a grant of £8,850 from The National Lottery Community Fund to support the project.
Ceinwen Parry, co-ordinator of the clubs, said,
“Many farmers and their families have been members of Young Farmers Clubs (YFC), which are clubs for young people between the ages of 10 and 28. YFC gives young people opportunities to socialize and take part in various competitions, and gives them a reason to regularly leave the farm and be part of a wider community.
“After leaving YFC, there are no similar clubs available for the young people and they return to the farm to work long hours in a busy atmosphere, often under pressure. Farming can be a very lonely and unsociable job. Our idea therefore was to create a club for farmers over 28 and their families, so that they have a reason to get out and meet other people from the agricultural community, and more importantly, have a chance to talk. Retired farmers also enjoy coming as it’s a good place to keep in touch with people of a similar background and experience.”
The first ‘Clwb Ffermwyr’ was established in Anglesey in 2022. The club meets once a month in various locations across the island and around 30-35 attend regularly, with over 70 attending some activities.
A variety of evenings are organized for the members – fun activities such as a pool and darts night, archery or farm visits. Individuals from agricultural organisations such as EID Cymru, Farming Connect and vets also come to do talks, and hearing from them about important information or changes can often lessen a burden according to the members. The farmers can ask questions and discuss matters openly in the club without having to worry about them at home.
As a result of the success of the Farmers’ Club in Anglesey, Tir Dewi set about establishing clubs in other areas of Wales. Some have now been established in Pen Llŷn and Clwyd, and the Caernarfon and Conwy areas have also shown an interest in establishing clubs locally, so it’s an exciting time as the plan develops. The ultimate intention is for each club to have two officers – a treasurer and a secretary – who will be responsible for their local club and will be supported by Tir Dewi and the Farmers’ Clubs.
According to Ceinwen Parry,
“Isolation can be a big problem in the agricultural world – unless there is a good reason to leave the farm, farmers often stay at home. The Farmers’ Club gives them a reason to leave the farm; gives an opportunity to socialize, chat, laugh and have fun, and sometimes to learn.
“So many of the traditional places where farmers used to meet have disappeared – many chapels and churches have closed, there are less local pubs around, and even the livestock markets have changed their way of operating during Covid-19 so farmers spend less time there now too.
“The purpose of the Farmers’ Clubs is simply to provide a place for the farmers to go. Even if only a dozen come to a few nights for whatever reason, those people have turned out and the club and the company have helped them with loneliness – and that is so important.”
Nia Hughes, a Funding Officer for The National Lottery Community Fund, said,
“We are delighted to be able to support this project, thanks to the players of the National Lottery. Community is at the heart of our purpose, our vision and our name and there is no doubt that Tir Dewi does a great job bringing the agricultural community together and supporting them in terms of mental health and wellbeing. We look forward to seeing the project develop over the next few years.”
The £8,850 that Tir Dewi received to establish the Farmers’ Clubs was a National Lottery’s Awards for All grant. This programme has recently changed to help put social connections and community activities at the heart of creating healthier and happier lives across Wales. These changes will give more financial stability and longer-term security to projects.
Community groups and charities can now:
- apply for funding between £300 and £20,000 to support their project, an increase from the previous maximum of £10,000;
- get funding for up to two years, rather than one;
- hold only one National Lottery Awards for All grant at a time.
For more information about the National Lottery’s Awards for All grants and how to apply, visit www.tnlcommunityfund.org.uk/funding/programmes/national-lottery-awards-for-all-wales
