Methodists Supporting Farmers in Cumbria

By the Revd David Newlove, Cumbria Agricultural Chaplaincy

This week marks the Farm Safety Foundation’s annual Mind Your Head Week, a national campaign created by NFU Mutual’s Yellow Wellies initiative to raise awareness of mental health challenges in the agricultural community.

Farming has always been a demanding vocation, but recent years have brought new pressures: rapid technological change, increasing isolation, financial strain, shifting national policies and global trade pressures.

These stresses are taking a visible toll. Mental wellbeing among UK farmers has fallen to a four year low, with the steepest decline among those aged 61 and over – traditionally the most resilient group. In 2024, 47 people working in farming and agriculture in England and Wales died by suicide.

Our farmers work in a unique context, with the technological developments in these last few years we have seen an increase in isolation and loneliness amongst farmers. Coupled with this are the stresses and strains of tight financial constraints, national policy changes, international trade pressures and a growing dissonance between producer and customer – the vast majority of farmed produce bears no resemblance to the packaged and processed goods in our supermarkets.

Mental wellbeing among UK farmers has hit a 4 year low with those over 40, with those aged 61+ showing the sharpest decline – this has always been our most resilient group. In 2024 there were 47 suicides in England and Wales among the farming and agricultural industry.

In Cumbria we have nine Auction Marts and our chaplaincy aim is to have a chaplain at each mart – at least on the local sale days. We see our role as valuing, helping and supporting our agricultural community.

We are there to build relationships with buyers, vendors and those who see the Mart as their go-to place off the farm where they meet their friends, socialise and find community. It is a vital, vibrant place. It is here that our chaplains operate, sometimes with a short hello and friendly chat but also a much deeper confidential conversation where someone can open up in a safe space and share something that is worrying them.

Occasionally the chat can move into a faith conversation, but we are not there to proselytise. It is a powerful, vital ministry and one where the chaplain can come away blessed, knowing that not only have they helped someone by their availability but sensing that the Spirit has moved them in where to stand, who to speak to and in what to say.

On Wednesday, as part of this year’s Mind Your Head campaign, we are facilitating a mental health market place at the Carlisle Mart where a number of farming charities and agencies will gather to offer their support, share resources and advertise their presence.

Please pray for our chaplains, their ministry and the people they serve. They go not for themselves but for the people the meet and in the name of the Church.