Young farmers from Cheshire have visited Parliament to raise awareness of some of the mental health challenges they face in rural communities.
The delegation from Cheshire Young Farmers were invited by the MP for Chester South & Eddisbury, Aphra Brandreth and met with senior figures from both the Government and the Shadow Cabinet during the visit. Young farmers had the opportunity to raise their concerns directly with the Minister for Farming, Daniel Zeichner MP.
The visit follows on from a debate that Aphra Brandreth held in the House of Commons last year on improving mental health in farming and agricultural communities, where she raised the sense of isolation that farmers feel working in an incredibly challenging industry. “Farmers have faced a tough few years,” she said. “I was pleased to raise the urgent need for better mental health support in Parliament last year and I am grateful that the Minister agreed to meet with our local young farmers, allowing them to directly share their concerns and ideas with the Government.”
Siobhan Rutter, Chair of Cheshire Young Farmers Club (YFC), highlighted the significance of the visit. “Cheshire Young Farmers were honoured to attend the Houses of Parliament to discuss mental health in rural communities and the work of the YFC with Aphra Brandreth and the Minister, Daniel Zeichner,” she said. “This opportunity to voice our views and have our opinions heard on key issues affecting the sector has been a privilege.”
Ms Brandreth called for a united, integrated approach across Government to tackle mental health challenges in rural areas, saying after the meeting “My thanks go to Mike, Siobhan, Winnie, John, and Mollie from Cheshire Young Farmers for their passionate advocacy on behalf of Cheshire’s farming communities. Their dedication has ensured these vital issues are firmly on the agenda, and our local Cheshire farmers should be very proud that Cheshire Young Farmers are banging the drum for our rural communities."
