2018-10-08 |
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Nationwide celebration of Young Farmers’ Clubs
The National Federation of Young Farmers’ Clubs (NFYFC) is celebrating the role its 615 Young Farmers’ Club play in rural communities during National Young Farmers’ Week 2018 (8-12 October), supported by NatWest.
Members of the leading rural youth organisation have been asked to share messages on social media about what YFC means to them and to promote the benefits of being a member of a club.
Dan Moseley with his YFC friends Emily Cartmail (front) and Harriet Wilson.
The wider industry has also been asked to answer the question ‘What does YFC mean to you?’ and messages of support will be shared online throughout the week.
For one Young Farmer in Eccleshall YFC, Staffordshire, being part of a YFC meant vital support after a life-threatening spinal injury.
Dan Moseley, 21, was in hospital for six months earlier this year after a trampoline accident left him unable to walk but his YFC friends have been helping him through this challenging time.
“What is getting me through it is the support and friendship of everyone in YFC. My friends took it upon themselves to raise funds so that I can get some specialist equipment to help me in this next stage of my life – they called it ‘Get Moseley Back On The Move’.
“They’ve done all sorts of things like long distance bike rides and have raised an incredible £20,000. I feel very lucky to be a part of YFC. If I wasn’t, I don’t know what sort of state I’d be in now,” said Dan.
Dan is one of 11 YFC members who will share their stories throughout the week in a series of posts on the NFYFC website.
The week-long celebration of YFCs and the work they do includes the opportunity for a YFC to win £350, courtesy of NatWest, for recording the best promotional YFC video. The videos are being judged by NFYFC’s President and Countryfile presenter Charlotte Smith and star of BBC’s The Hill Farm Gareth Wyn Jones.
This will be the fourth National Young Farmers’ Week and the aim of the week is to promote YFCs to more rural young people so they are aware of the benefits the clubs can offer them by providing an active social network and developing skills.
There are 24,500 members of NFYFC who are all offered opportunities to take on roles in their YFCs as well as get involved in the organisation at a County, Area and national level.
The skills developed through NFYFC’s competitions, training, travel and agricultural activities are the true benefits of being part of a YFC and the organisation will be using the hashtag #TrueYFC during the week.
NFYFC’s President, Charlotte Smith, said:
“This National Young
Farmers’ Week we are posing the question, ‘What does YFC mean to
you?’ The organisation means so much to so many people so it will
be interesting to see the diverse range of answers that are shared.
“For me, I am loving being involved with one of the largest rural youth organisations in the UK. It plays such an important role supporting young people in rural areas and I am proud to be its President.”
Ian Burrow, Head of Agriculture from NatWest, official sponsors of National Young Farmers’ Week 2018, said:
“NatWest is really excited to be helping Young Farmers’ Clubs’ raise awareness of the brilliant work they do in their rural communities.
“We have been supporting YFCs with cash management training for a number of years and for the NatWest team YFC really does mean fun, learning and achievement.”
Case studies
Matthew
Denby from Alford YFC in Lincolnshire was County Chairman
when he was also faced with a life-threatening condition but his
YFC friends pulled together and gave him hope and determination.
Dan Mosley from Eccleshall YFC in Staffordshire broke his neck during a trampoline accident in 2018 but his club have fundraised for specialist equipment to help him in the next stage of his life.
Josie Mitchinson from Raughton Head YFC in Cumbria was inspired to do more to support her local community after getting involved with the flood clean up in 2015.
Rose Smyth from Hope Valley YFC in Derbyshire explains the benefits of having a role in your club – even from the age of 10.
Sallie Woodward from Wix YFC in Essex knows that her YFC friends always look out for each other, especially when she was involved in a car accident.
Caroline Nixey from Henley YFC in Oxford talks about how a trip to Jamaica with YFC meant she could support a rural community in another country.
Hazel Stansfield from Clitheroe YFC in Lancashire has developed personal and professional skills through YFC.
Laura Watts from Canterbury YFC in Kent explains why YFC how YFC members take on active roles in their clubs.
Matthew Hipperson from Reepham YFC in Norfolk reveals how YFC helped him find a wife and life-long friend.
Peter Bowyer from North Herts YFC in Hertfordshire says YFC has inspired his farming career.
Rhys James from Llysyfran YFC in Wales explains how stockjudging brought a shy 12 year old out of his shell.
