Farmers in Devon are getting a well-earned rest and chance to socialise, amid the struggles of modern agriculture, thanks to a new men's support group launched by the Methodist Church.
For many family-run farms in the county, farming can be a lonely and difficult life with few interactions with colleagues or other people in the community and comes amid a backdrop of a higher suicide rate for those living and working in rural areas.
But now, West Devon Methodist Church is providing rest, activities and a space to just chat for some of the male farmers in the community with the setting up of Rural Recharge.
The growing project, part funded by Devon Council, was set up in February and invites people in the farming community to activity evenings, like bowling or fishing, as well as evenings to just sit around a fire pit and socialise with their friends in agriculture.
Sarah Balsdon, Children and Families Worker, and the Revd Chris Jackson, Superintendent Minister of the West Devon Circuit, set up the group, which attracted 20 people for the first trip and is continuing to grow.
The Revd Chris said: “We are a very rural circuit with many farmers and, sadly, farming is one of the communities most vulnerable, particularly among men, to suicide.
“In our community there are a lot of small-scale farmers who work alone and may not see or speak to anyone for a week or more. The idea behind Rural Recharge was to provide a space where they can socialise and do things together.
“Sometimes that is through trips out, to the bowling alley, a fishing trip for example, or an evening in front of a firepit where they can sit and chat to one another over food.
“It gives them a great chance to unwind and provides an opportunity to chat about any issues they might be facing.
“We had around 20 people attended the first evening and we have since had another three events. The Church is part of the community, so we reach a lot of people through word of mouth from church members who then tell others about Rural Recharge, and we also use social media.
“We will also ring people up to just check how they are doing, not to force anything down their throats, but just to check they are okay and if they perhaps want to come on the next event.”
For the Revd Chris, reaching out to people who may be lonely is part of his Christian mission to the community.
He said: “I have a particular mantra – community, discipleship and growth, in that order. It is by being present in the community that we are being Christ in the community.
“I think part of our faith, and being part of a farming community, is to respond to God’s love, to the needs of the farming community and the farmers themselves.
“People then begin to ask ‘Why are you doing this?’, and we tell them.
“We can then say we are called by God and by Jesus to do this. And people are quite intrigued about why we do things because some people could ask ‘Why bother?’
“We do bother because that is what we’re called to do. It is very much at the heart of our mission and our ministry in a rural community.
“It might be easier to hide loneliness in the countryside, you could be a farmer with 100 acres and not seen by anyone.
“But equally I think you can be just as lonely living in a high rise flat in the middle of London with hundreds of thousands of people around you.
“Building community is something that the Church can help support no matter where in the country you live.”
Sarah Balsdon, who was key to organising the project, said: “Over recent years, there have been many local groups forming to try and support men's mental health by building supportive community.
“A volunteer we work closely with runs a local 'Who Let the Dads Out?' group. Together we started dreaming of how we could apply the concept but to farmers instead.
“Farmers' lifestyles don’t work around the common nine-to-five – therefore, we looked at how we could adapt the model to cater for, support and encourage them.
“For me, Rural Recharge is about giving farmers a reason to stop for a few hours and enjoy a different activity together in a community who understands what it is like to live and work in farming and agricultural settings.”
An attendee said: “It was a great evening, nice to get together and talk to other like- minded farmers and people to discuss markets, market prices and the weather.”
Chris and Sarah will be speaking about their successes at the Love Rural Conference 20–21 October 2026 at Yarnfield Park Conference centre.
To get involved in Rural Recharge, please contact the Revd Chris Jackson via chris.jackson7@gmail.com
