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Thanks to funding from the Princes Countryside Fund, the Rural Health Partnership will soon be running a series of programmes, events, and workshops for Rural Farming Women.
Mrs Teresa Nugent CEO of the Rural Health Partnership said, “ We are delighted to have been the only group from NI in this round who were successful in our application for funding to the Princes Countryside Fund to support rural farming women, and we thank the Princes Countryside Fund for their support. With this funding we intend to run a range of programmes, workshops and events aimed primarily at supporting the women members of farm families, be they wives of farmers, daughters of farmers or indeed farmers themselves. We want to establish a support programme for Women in Farming - understanding & recognising the role women play in farming acknowledging they are the backbone of a rural community. Giving recognition and valuing the importance of the role of rural farm women. Breaking down barriers addressing inequality”
The Rural Health Partnership believes this project is timely especially as the NI Agriculture Assembly Committee have just backed a survey called “Breaking the Grass Ceiling” examining the barriers women face in the agricultural sector.
Majella Gollogly Project Worker with the Rural Health Partnership said, “ We thank the Princes Countryside Fund for supporting our innovative project . We believe that women are the Unsung Heroes of farming - their importance on the farm is more than "standing in a gateway" to facilitate the movement of livestock, rather they are the "gateway" through which most of the day to day management and operations of the farm are facilitated. So as well as being the farm hand, they are also the one who keeps the farm office operational and looks after the family. For many women life on a farm despite being busy can be isolating, and lonely, it can be pressurised balancing and juggling all the daily requirements of a Wife, a Mother, a Farm Hand, a Farm Office Manager, and maybe working part-time off the farm as well. Living in a rural setting can compound feelings of isolation, lack of support and the COVID pandemic has significantly contributed even more to that”.
Majella continued “With this programme we want to celebrate the role of women in farming, break down barriers, providing skills, peer support, build resilience, instil coping mechanisms to enhance mental health and wellbeing. Examine ways on how to address family needs and issues that can arise at different life stages, building confidence and peer support”.
If you would like more information on our “Women in Farming - More than Standing in a Gateway” project, please contact Majella Gollogly by email on majellagollogly@rhpsa.org or by mobile on 07596997883 or private message our Facebook at WWW.FACEBOOK.COM
