A new collaboration could see wellness hubs being set up in football clubs across rural Wales, to help those living in farming communities with their mental health.

In a special seminar arranged by the Farmers’ Union of Wales at the FUW pavilion at the Royal Welsh Showground, Noel Mooney, CEO of the Football Association of Wales, said that the association wants to utilise the network of football clubs across Wales to ensure that the mental health of those who feel isolated is supported.

The Farmers’ Union of Wales is looking forward to a busy week at the National Eisteddfod in Boduan and has a full programme of events planned for those visiting.

FUW Caernarfonshire Senior County Executive Officer Gwynedd Watkin, said: “Without a doubt, the highlight of the week will be presenting the Crown on behalf of the FUW. It is a very beautiful Crown, designed and made by Elin Mair Roberts, a young jeweller who trades under the title Janglerins from Y Ffor, not far from the Eisteddfod Maes.”

The Farmers’ Union of Wales has boosted the funds of mental health charity, The DPJ Foundation, with £50,000 after just over three years of fundraising.

The charity was announced as the FUW’s presidential charity at the Royal Welsh Show in 2019 and the Union has held various fundraising activities in that time including farmhouse breakfast events, mountain climbs, walks and bingo nights to name a few.

The FUW has worked with the DPJ Foundation since its inception in 2016, helping to not just raise funds but vital awareness of mental health issues in rural and farming communities.

Getting to grips with the ‘energy injustice’ faced by communities and farming businesses is one of the key challenges currently faced by the rural economy in Wales, according to a panel of experts brought together by the Farmers’ Union of Wales. More needs to be done to ensure that the barriers currently faced by a vast number of farmers seeking to invest into small renewable energy projects are removed, such as planning restrictions and a lack of grid capacity. The Minister responsible for Energy, Julie James MS, told the panel that steps had been taken to ease the process with the Welsh Government’s ‘Future Wales’ plan.