The Young Farmers' Clubs of Ulster (YFCU) has launched a new campaign aimed at combatting loneliness in rural communities💫
The new #CuppaAndACatchUp campaign being launched this month will see every club in Northern Ireland reaching out to people who are isolated or vulnerable in their area. Each club will be receiving packs to distribute to those who need support. Each pack contains a packet of biscuits, a leaflet highlighting the work of Rural Support and an all-important mug to allow you to have your cup of tea and a chat.☕🍪
(From left to right, Linzi Stewart, Peter Alexander, Neville Graham, Caroline Martin)
Leading Northern Ireland dairy cooperative Dale Farm has donated generously towards the provision of mugs for this Northern Ireland-wide campaign and local retail company Henderson Retail Ltd has kindly donated 300 packets of biscuits for distribution.🥛🍪
Chronic loneliness affects around 1 in 20 people in Northern Ireland and 88% of the population say that the problem has grown since Covid-19 restrictions were first imposed over two years ago. Being lonely can affect not only mental health but also physical health and has been associated with a heightened risk of issues including heart disease and dementia. YFCU wants to help tackle these problems and the stigma around being lonely. YFCU President, Peter Alexander, said: “The #CuppandaCatchUp campaign is a fantastic initiative from our YFSeesYou Mental Health committee, which aims to support our members, their families and local communities. ✨
“We are living very busy lives and can often forget to take time out to reach out to those around us. The idea of this campaign is to encourage and support members to connect with friends, family and members of their club and local community to combat isolation and loneliness. A quick cup of tea and a biscuit can make all the difference and help brighten someone’s day. As an organisation we are delighted to work with Dale Farm, Henderson Retail and Rural Support to make a positive change across Northern Ireland.”
The campaign seeks to build on the success of the YFSeesYou Ambassador Programme, launched in 2021.
(Peter Alexander, YFCU President & Neville Graham, Dale Farm)
☎If you are affected by loneliness or isolation and would like to speak to someone you may wish to contact Rural Support on 0800 138 1678.
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