Rural Support Charity Secures Vital Funding for Bereavement Help Programme
Rural Support, the trusted local charity providing emotional and farm business support to the farming community across Northern Ireland, is delighted to announce that it has secured five-year funding to continue and expand its vital bereavement support programme, Life Beyond.
This new funding commitment, generously provided by The National Lottery Community Fund through its Strengthening Communities programme, will ensure farmers and farm families facing the loss of a loved one can access long-term, specialised support tailored to the unique challenges of farming life.
The programme offers one-to-one bereavement counselling to all members of a farming family, financial planning assistance, and practical farm business management guidance during one of the most difficult periods a farming family can face.
George Mullan, Managing Director of ABP and Chairperson of the Life Beyond Steering Group Committee said: “The Life Beyond programme is a lifeline for many families during the most difficult of times.
“On behalf of the Steering Group, I wish to extend my gratitude to The National Lottery Community Fund for recognising the importance of the Life Beyond service.
“This new funding commitment allows Rural Support’s Life Beyond team to stand alongside bereaved families helping them find stability, hope and a way forward.”
Demand for bereavement support within the farming community has continued to grow, with families often facing additional pressures such as succession concerns, financial uncertainty, and the emotional impact of working and living in the same space where loss or an accident has occurred.
This vital funding will allow Rural Support to increase service capacity, create new outreach initiatives, and continue to provide bespoke training for its counsellors, farm business mentors and volunteers.
Therefore, providing the farm support charity with stability to reach even more families across the province and ensure no one in our farming community has to face difficult times without support.
Kate Beggs, Northern Ireland Director at The National Lottery Community Fund, said: “Our Strengthening Communities programme is focused on helping people across Northern Ireland live healthier, more connected lives, and Life Beyond is well placed to provide the early, community-led support that families need when facing bereavement or trauma.
“Guided by our strategy, it starts with community. We invest most where the need is greatest, ensuring that people have access to specialist help that can protect their wellbeing and strengthen relationships.
“Rural Support is deeply rooted in the farming community, and we’re pleased this funding will help them continue offering compassionate, practical support to families at an incredibly difficult time.
“We encourage other groups with ideas for strengthening their communities to get in touch with us for a conversation.
For more information please visit the Rural Support website:
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Life Beyond was launched in 2021 in partnership with EmbraceFARM (IRL) and since then the programme has supported over 100 bereaved families across Northern Ireland who have experienced loss or trauma through a farm accident, suicide, unexpected or expected death.
Helping individuals and farming families to navigate their grief at their own pace. With the demands of farm work often leaving little time or space to process bereavement, this bereavement support programme has become an essential source of strength for many in the farming community.
The programme aims to not only support individuals, but to help maintain the resilience of the wider agricultural sector.
If you or someone you know could benefit from the Life Beyond bereavement support programme, please contact Rural Support on their freephone confidential Support Line 0800 138 1678.
