IN February of this year the Rural Health Partnership received funding from the Prince’s Countryside Fund to support its “Women in Farming – More than Standing in a Gateway”, project.
Aimed at women who are the wife, daughter, sister or mother of a farmer or even a farmer themselves, the programme has four key areas – skills training, health and well being, family support and networking opportunities.
It became very clear early on with the large number of expressions of interest from farming women from all over Northern Ireland that this programme was certainly something that farming women wanted and was much needed.
Speaking about the programme, Majella Gollogly, Development Officer with the RHP, said: “We are delighted with the success of the programme to date, and with the range of activities and workshops our participants have engaged in.
“When we launched the programme we quickly became aware that there was a huge demand for something like this.
“We have covered anything from Farm Families First Aid Awareness, Healthy Eating, to Succession Planning to Farm Safety, and even a course on Trailer Reversing! Culminating in a beautiful Summer Solstice Evening Tea.”
This programme was very timely as it happened at the same time as the NI DAERA Committee’s Consultation and subsequent launch of the its report on Women in Agriculture Breaking the Grass Ceiling – which explores the barriers to women in the agriculture and the farming industry in NI.
Feedback from the participants to date has been very positive, with all enjoying the diverse range of topics relevant to farming being covered and relishing the opportunity to network with other like-minded women.
As the summer months are a busy time on farms, the Women in Farming programme took a break from its activities for the month of August but is back again in September.
The beauty about this programme is the participants can do as much or as little as they chose – the RHP recognises farm families are busy so participants
can chose a “pick and mix” of what they would like to do.
n The autumn programme kicks off with a Trailer Reversing Workshop on Saturday, September 10.
n If you are interested or know someone who might be and would like more information on what is involved in the “Women in Farming – More than Standing in the Gateway” project please contact Majella at the Rural Health Partnership by phoning 07596 997883 or emailing majellagollogly@rhpsa.org
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