Our main aim for the project was to contact older farmers in the Ederney Corkey and Ballymacbrennan areas that were rurally and socially deprived. The rational was to improve participants’ emotional well-being and reduce isolation by providing a timetable of monthly engagements to allow older male farmers to connect and enjoy each other’s company.
As a whole, the groups provided social opportunities for the older male farmers who were at risk of becoming socially isolated. Rural Support dedicated the Elevate funding towards bringing like-minded men together once a month, providing opportunities for social connections and interactions with an underlying aim of improving mental health and well-being. In house meetings with group leaders took place for the group which included heritage information, Farm Families health checks, poetry and reminiscing of old-time farming methods.
The project recognised that farming can be an isolating and demanding career and particularly for older farmers, who through succession or declining health and mobility are no longer active in the in the daily life of the farm, and re-adjusting to a new normal is a significant challenge. Consequently, we created testimonial videos that will support us to innovatively share the impact and the outcomes of the project.
The project encouraged emotional and social resilience within participants. It provided the opportunity to tackle social inclusion and reduce social isolation, improved various aspects of health and well-being including confidence, skills, knowledge and education of farming topics as well as a better understanding of health and well-being topics such as food, nutrition health checks, combatting isolation and self-development opportunities.
As a project we created various opportunities for new learning and provided trips that increased social connectedness as well as increased knowledge and learning. The feedback we have from the groups indicate that the project has been very useful and positive. Our hope is that we have created mental resilience and space for new ideas and learning within these three farming communities. Our numbers of older farmers wishing to attend the groups keeping increasing, which shows the benefit and appreciation of the project.
The Mentoring supported Rural Support to tackle health inequalities as conversation with one to one and group sessions which health inequalities always at the top of the agenda. As a group of Mentees, we spoke about the unfair and avoidable difference in health status which many of our target audience for this project experience. The new learning allowed us to make changes to our groups and become more aware of positive change. Aidan and Charlene form ARC Healthy Living Centre were very engaging and supportive and were always available for guidance, queries and support.
As an organisation we are better equipped now to create sustainability plans for the Plough On project as a result of connecting with the farming community support networks and Elevate networking opportunities.
“All the connections have been invaluable- we are very grateful to Elevate”
