Rural Support to hold a Service of Remembrance for Farming Families Across Northern Ireland
On Sunday 9th June, at 2.30pm, in St John’s Church of Ireland, Moneymore, Rural Support is holding a Service of Remembrance through its Life Beyond Programme, for farming families across Northern Ireland.
The Life Beyond Programme, delivered by Rural Support in partnership with Embrace FARM, provides much needed practical and emotional support for farm families in Northern Ireland who have experienced bereavement through a farm accident, suicide, unexpected or expected death.
Kevin Doherty, CEO of Rural Support said: “The Life Beyond programme helps individuals and farming families to navigate their new norm with the assistance and guidance of a Farm Business Mentor as well as counselling support in the comfort of their own home.
“I welcome anyone who has been bereaved in our farming community to join us on the 9th of June in Moneymore so what we can all be united as we celebrate the lives of those we have lost.”
The Life Beyond programme was formally launched by DAERA Minister Edwin Poots and Health Minister Robin Swann in August 2021 and since then the programme has supported a number of farming families across Northern Ireland.
The Life Beyond programme offers:
- Tailored support according to each family’s individual needs,
- Bereavement counselling that includes trauma support,
- Mentoring support for the farm business,
- Free, confidential and impartial guidance for all of the farm family.
Commenting on this remembrance event, George Mullan, Chairperson of ABP Food Group and Chairperson of the Life Beyond Steering Committee said: “ABP Food Group have been a great supporter of the Life Beyond programme since its inception and it’s a cause very close to my heart.
“This Service of Remembrance will be a way to support those who are navigating their way through grief.
“And it will provide an opportunity for attendees to interact with others who have experienced loss, to reflect and reminisce, and to honour the contributions made to the lives, land and agricultural community by loved ones who have passed away.
“I welcome all who have experienced loss within the farming community to attend the event so that we might remember and celebrate the lives of our departed loved ones together.”
During the ecumenical service names of family members to be remembered and will be read as a roll of honour.
Should you wish to include the name of someone close to you or require more information about the event, please contact Rural Support via email:
farmsupport@ruralsupport.org.uk or call 028 8676 0040.
The event is free of charge with all who have experienced loss within the farming community welcome.
Light refreshments will be served and the Farmers’ Choir will be preforming on the day.
If you would like to find out more about the Life Beyond programme or the range of services and programmes available at Rural Support, go to the NI Farm Support hub at:
or telephone the Support Line on Freephone 0800 138 1678 available Mon-Fri 9am-9pm.
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- Rural Support is a registered charity and was established in 2002 and provides a range of services for farmers and farming families across Northern Ireland including a support line. It also provides face to face support through its mentoring programme, help with sourcing information and advice about a wide range of issues:
- The support line (0800 138 1678) is available 9am-9pm, Monday to Friday (voicemail and options available at all other times. Freephone from all UK landlines and mobiles).
- Rural Support co-ordinates the Social Farming Support Service for Northern Ireland, funded by the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA).
- Rural Support provides free business, financial and technical mentoring from its dedicated team. It also runs a series of training workshops under the Princes’ Countryside Fund Resilience Programme and delivers ‘Coping with the Pressures of Farming’ under the CAFRE Family Farm Key Skills Programme.
- Life Beyond is a joint programme between Rural Support, Northern Ireland and Embrace FARM, Republic of Ireland.
- It provides practical business, financial and technical mentoring support to farming families who have experienced loss – whether through bereavement or survival from a farm accident. It also provides counselling and trauma support in the form of one-to-one mentoring and peer-to-peer group support.
- ‘Across the Hedgerow’ is a befriending scheme for lonely and isolated people from farming families and is delivered by Rural Support.
- Plough On is a social connection project for older farmers who are isolated and lonely and is funded by the National Lottery Community Fund.
