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Name: | Lorna Keight |
Age: | 22 |
Year of the Fix: | 2013 |
Location: | Cornwall |
Campaign: | Encouraging more support for farmers |
Before I met my partner Tom, who is a farmer, I used to think farming was mainly an easy way to be outside all day and enjoy the weather. But it became clear pretty soon after I met him that farming is a tough, demanding job.
The more I learnt about farming, the more I realised the strain farmers feel every day. Reports suggest that farmers are three times more likely to commit suicide than anyone else, and when you analyse the pressures they face every day, you can see why.
I think that part of the problem is that there is not enough support for farmers facing difficulties, particularly from the public. So, through a poster campaign, I'm encouraging more understanding of what it is farmers do to hopefully improve their support network, and cut the suicide rate.
Here is a list of Fixers helping me with my Fix:
Sam Melhuish
Ashley Rowe
Pam Wills from the Royal Agricultural Benevolent Institution
Thank you to Pam for supplying information about suicide among farmers, and for speaking about the support farmers need in my television piece.
A local club supporting young farmers in my area, who put forward some case studies to be used in the project.
A nationwide group, which supports farmers through the hardships they may face.
Peter Clarke, Farm Community Network co-ordinator for Cornwall
'This is brilliant! Well done to you and all the Fixers team.Thank you for the reference and link to the website. You may have seen via the National Federation of Young Farmers that we are, jointly, trying to discover how we can do more to help and support young people who are facing problems. When the survey we are running is completed, I will make sure that you have sight of the results. Thanks again and keep on Fixing.'
The bus company supports my Fixers project and has offered to display my Fixers posters on their buses and coaches.
August 2013
My campaign was featured in This is Plymouth, Business Cornwall and Farming Monthly. Click on the names listed above to read the relevant articles.
I've also had encouraging feedback from those who have seen my campaign, you can read some of these below:
Kelly 'Interesting, colourful posters that provide key information regarding farming in a clear and succint way.'
Androulla: 'They look very colourful and draw you in. It shows you all the different areas of farming. They look good.'
Fern Lulham
Becky
Fixers
Sam Barakat
Olivia G
'Kate'
Jade Kingdom
Shano
Ethan Mcinally
Hannah Carter
Ben Simms
Hafsa Ur-Rehman
'Ben'
Mason Latey
Shannon Rawlings
Chelsie Brown
Mary-Anne White and Lucy Wills
Lauren Taylor
Tilly and Bella
Macauley Collinson
Alexandra Garrick
Jo Quinn