General information on Worcestershire:
FCN Worcestershire
THE WORCESTERSHIRE FARM CRISIS NETWORK GROUP
The Worcestershire FCN Group was officially launched in the Autumn of 2007. Prior to this there had been a Worcestershire Rural Stress Support Network that, at one time, was part of the West Midlands Rural Stress Support Network.
The first task for the group was dealing with applications to the ARC Addington Fund, on behalf of farmers who had incurred significant losses due to the Summer 2007 floods.
The Worcestershire FCN Group fits into the region including Oxfordshire, Warwickshire, Hertfordshire and Berkshire with Glyn Evans as our Regional Coordinator.
The Group comprises of a chairman, chaplain, county coordinator and seven volunteers that all bring their particular skills to the organisation. Over the three years, we have dealt with a whole range of issues together with Rural Payment Agency issues. The Group has close links with the Worcestershire Chaplaincy for Agriculture and Rural Life and work with our sister organisations in Herefordshire and Gloucestershire. Some of our volunteers also take their turn on the FCN Helpline.
The Group undertake quarterly training that is all designed to support our contact with clients. Through better knowledge and understanding of rural issues we feel that we can provide a higher level of support. This has proven to be very beneficial in some of the more complex cases that occur from time to time.
Apart from direct contact with clients we use our display trailer to promote the work of FCN. This was purchased in partnership with our Warwickshire Group together with Regional Development Agency funding, some donations to FCN specifically to be used in the county and very good support from the Three Counties Agricultural Society. If you attend any agricultural event there is a strong possibility that we shall be there, so please do call in.
We feel that there will always be a need for some people to receive help at any particular time and we intend to be there for them should it occur.
