Chris Batt (pictured), who is the Farm Crisis Network’s Cornwall Co-ordinator, will be taking up residence at the shed every Wednesday morning from 9am until lunchtime, when local famers and members of the agricultural community can drop in for a confidential chat if they are experiencing any problems.
The new facility, a 22 x 8ft wooden shed has been bought and paid for by the Truro-based insurer to support the Cornwall Agricultural Chaplaincy.
Chris Batt said: “Having the shed at Truro Market is really important, as it gives members of the agricultural community a place where they can come for advice, support, or just a general chat with a friendly face. Farming can be a very stressful and isolating job – for example, someone I saw last week said I was the first person they’d spoken to in three weeks – so just being there can make a really big difference.
“Farmers are very self-sufficient and don’t like to ask for help, but small worries can snowball and things can go rapidly downhill when you don’t have someone to talk to. When I speak to people I try to pre-empt problems and point them in the right direction before things become a major issue, as well as acting as the first point of contact for charities like RABI and the Addington Fund.”
Paul Hawkins, local Insurance Inspector for Cornish Mutual added: “The work the agricultural chaplaincy carries out here in Truro is so important to the local farming community, including many of Cornish Mutual’s Members, which is why we wanted to support them by providing a new shed for the market. It will give an excellent base for Chris and a place where people know they can go for private help and guidance.”
For more information about Cornish Mutual, visit www.cornishmutual.co.uk or call 01872 277151.
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