Outreach health screening and promotion service to be offered to farming community

17 July 2024

Powys' farming community is to be offered free health screenings as part of an accessible outreach service that will be visiting this year's Royal Welsh Show.

Farming Fit has been developed as an outreach service to help meet the specific health and wellbeing needs of the farming community in Powys.

Powys County Council (PCC), Powys Teaching Health Board (PTHB), Powys Association of Voluntary Organisations (PAVO), and the Royal Welsh Agricultural Society (RWAS) have worked together in partnership to develop the Farming Fit project.

The outreach service will see healthcare professionals, council staff and members of the voluntary sector visit livestock markets in Brecon, Builth Wells and Welshpool on a monthly basis from August until December.

During the Royal Welsh Show, the team will be on the Balcony of Exhibition Hall 1, and they will also be attending the Royal Welsh Winter Fair, and the NSA Wales and Border Ram Sale.

The service will provide:

• Blood pressure check
• Lifestyle assessments
• Smoking cessation advice
• Signposting and awareness of mental wellbeing and support
• A safe and confidential space for discussion of health promotion opportunities.

Cllr Richard Church, Powys County Council's Cabinet Member for a Safer Powys, said: "I'm delighted that we are working in partnership with the health board and PAVO to offer this important outreach project.

"We know that the farming community tend to work long and antisocial hours which means they often have difficulties accessing traditional health and wellbeing services.

"By visiting livestock markets, we're bringing this important health initiative directly to farmers. The project will help to build healthier farming communities and support stronger farm businesses."

Mererid Bowley, Director of Public Health, said: "I'm delighted that this health promotion project is developing in partnership to offer opportunistic health promotion and screening to support the farming community.  We know that the industry can be very demanding, and this will be an opportunity to have discussion to promote health and wellbeing, offer a listening ear, discuss wellbeing and signpost to community support, and to hear from the community how we can develop this project to support their needs."

Clair Swales, PAVO's Chief Executive Officer, said: "We are excited to be working on behalf of and with third sector organisations who support members of the agricultural sector. With our partners in the local council, health board and RWAS we have a shared vision to take this support to the sector.

"The Powys Agri Wellbeing Support network, facilitated by PAVO, has focussed on the holistic health needs of the sector and how best to address these needs through working together and with partner organisations.

"The third sector element of this outreach programme will offer a supportive conversation and signposting to local community or third sector support which addresses holistic matters for example social isolation, loneliness, mental wellbeing, physical activity, frailty, housing, financial and much more."

Chief Executive of the Royal Welsh Agricultural Society, Aled Rhys Jones said: "The Society is delighted that the 'Farming Fit Project' will be launching at this year's Royal Welsh Show.

"As we lead increasingly busy lives, it can be easy to forget to put yourself and your health first.

"This is a brilliant initiative, and we are extremely grateful to all the partner organisations for making this possible. We are proud to support this project and urge as many people as possible to visit during the week."