‘Farming Hero’ award for SAYFC mental health campaign

October 23, 2017 at 2:21 pm

The team from SAYFC picking up a national award for their mental health campaign last Thursday, in Birmingham. From the left group head of content with Briefing Media Emma Penny, SAYFC National Vice Chairman David Lawrie, SAYFC ‘Are Ewe Okay’ Campaign Manager Joanna Foubister, SAYFC Chief Executive Penny Montgomerie, SAYFC West Region Chairman Andrew Ireland and representative from award sponsor Volac.

A team from the Scottish Association of Young Farmers Clubs (SAYFC), including a former member of one of Orkney’s three clubs, have picked up an award at this year’s British Farming Awards.

SAYFC’s mental health campaign, ‘Are Ewe Okay?’, won this year’s Farmers Guardian Farming Hero award, at a ceremony held in Birmingham, last Thursday (October 19).

The manager for the SAYFC campaign is Joanna Foubister, who grew up at Netherton Farm, Holm. According to SAYFC, the campaign was launched due to the stigma surrounding mental health in the agricultural industry, as well to help deal with the challenges of diagnoses and treatment, due to the 24/7 nature of working in the sector.

The rural organisation launched the campaign to encourage conversations between their 3,500 members and to try and break the stigma. What was originally a 12-month campaign is now a long-term project with a dedicated social media day promoting health triggers, recognising the signs and how to seek help if someone is suffering.

Joanna Foubister who was a long-time member of the East Mainland Young Farmers Club, here in Orkney said: “It is a phenomenal honour to win the Farmers Guardian Farming Hero award and to be recognised for the ‘Are Ewe Okay?’ campaign.

“We know one in four people in Scotland will suffer from poor mental health so we predominately launched the campaign for our members.

“But, through this fantastic opportunity and exposure from this award, it will enable us to reach a greater audience and ultimately spreading awareness of the cause is one of our key objectives. It is truly appreciated.”

With ‘Are Ewe Okay?’ now in its second year, SAYFC have said the plan is to continue development, with the hope that the brand will grow.