Yorkshire Rural Support Network
The Yorkshire Rural Support Network is a partnership of farming organisations, charities and voluntary agencies that together promote and provide sources of help – whether practical, financial, medical or emotional – to those who live in farming and rural communities.
Key areas of our work include:
- Farmer Health and Wellbeing – by raising awareness of support for the farming community, funding free health checks at marts with Field Nurse, delivering mental wellbeing training and farming-focused first aid training with F3A.
- Networking and support for women in the countryside – through the Women In Farming Network.
- Tackling rural isolation – by way of our Yorkshire Farmers Gathering which encourages the over-50s who remain active in farming to come together socially and enjoy industry visits. Scroll down this page for more details.
Our members include: the Yorkshire Agricultural Society, Farming Community Network, Royal Agricultural Benevolent Institution, Perennial, Addington Fund, Samaritans, CLA, NFU, Farm Safety Foundation, Yorkshire Churches Rural Business Support, AgriWellbeing Alliance, F3A, Field Nurse, The Gamekeepers Welfare Trust, North Yorkshire Police, West Yorkshire Police and Papyrus.
Recent Projects
As one of a consortium of agricultural organisations operating in the North of England, the Yorkshire Agricultural Society has delivered a dedicated two-year programme of health and wellbeing support to farmers and rural communities.
Yorkshire Farmers Gathering
An initiative of the Yorkshire Rural Support Network, the Yorkshire Farmers Gathering – formerly known as the Yorkshire Farmers Club – has been set up to connect members of the county’s working farming community aged 50-plus. It is aimed at reducing social isolation and loneliness, creating opportunities for likeminded people to reconnect or forge new friendships.
The initiative offers exclusive organised visits for members of the farming community at intervals throughout the year. There is no formal sign-up process. Simply sign up to the Yorkshire Rural Support Network mailing list at the foot of this webpage to receive updates about upcoming visits and other activities of the Network.
To read about some of the Gathering’s recent visits, click on the following links: Drax Power Station, Heck Food, Metcalfe Farms, British Sugar and British Wool.
email us at yrsn@yas.co.uk
call 01423 546050
call 01423 546050
Laura Copeland
Charitable Activities Network Co-ordinator
Laura coordinates the work of the Yorkshire Rural Support Network and the Women In Farming Network at the Yorkshire Agricultural Society and is based at the Regional Agricultural Centre offices in Harrogate.
Before her time in the role, Laura had worked with the Yorkshire Agricultural Society for four years, managing the Farm Retail Association, a national network of farm shops, farmers markets and pick-your own businesses.
Laura pursued a career in agriculture having studied Agribusiness at Harper Adams University.
Jill Gray
Chair of the Yorkshire Rural Support Network
Following a career as a college lecturer, Jill works alongside her husband and daughter on the family farm in Calderdale where they run a flock of commercial sheep, breed pedigree Berkshire pigs, and a pedigree flock of Ryeland sheep.
Any spare time is taken up by her role as Director of the Ryeland Flock Book Society, as well as her position as Chair of the Yorkshire Rural Support Network at the Yorkshire Agricultural Society.
Farming Help Contacts
01926 620135
(weekdays 9am – 5pm)
enquiries@addingtonfund.org.uk
03000 111 999
(7 am – 11 pm daily)
help@fcn.org.uk
Farming Help Contacts
01926 620135
(weekdays 9am – 5pm)
enquiries@addingtonfund.org.uk
03000 111 999
(7 am – 11 pm daily)
help@fcn.org.uk
Yorkshire Rural Support Network Blog
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