A CRUCIAL service has marked a special anniversary.

The DPJ Foundation has celebrated five years of helping Welsh farmers to “Share the Load”.

On Sunday, January 15, the foundation marked another milestone as its confidential support helpline ‘Share the Load’ has been operating for five years.

Listening, supporting, and helping the people of the farming community and their families across Wales, the DPJ Foundation has provided counselling to more than 750 people.

The Share the Load support helpline is a 24/7 confidential call and text line with a free counselling referral service, specifically for those in Welsh agriculture.

The DPJ Foundation prides itself on its non-judgmental, Samaritans-trained volunteers who are always there when needed.

Share the Load is different to many helplines as it gives the option of fully-funded professional counselling in English or Welsh to those who want it.

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Kate Miles, the charity’s manager, said “It’s been a challenging year for many of us, especially for farmers.

"As we head into 2023, things are still looking difficult for UK farm businesses with many having to make some hard decisions about their future.

"This can also put pressure on relationships and lead to stress, worry and poor mental health.

"Here at the DPJ Foundation we want to make sure that everyone in Welsh agriculture knows that they are not alone.

"When you are facing some hard times and difficult challenges, we can help.

"Our volunteers understand the farming industry and can offer support. We work closely with other charities such as Tir Dewi, FCN and RABI who can also help in difficult times.” 

Emma Picton Jones, the founder of the DPJ Foundation who established the charity six-and-a-half years ago following the death of her husband Daniel by suicide, said: “The last five years of Share the Load have been some of the most proud but heart breaking years of my life.

"Just over five years ago, following experiencing my own difficulty with accessing counselling following Dan’s death, I sat in the back room of a small coffee shop one winters night and told a group of friends that I was going to create a service that meant people didn’t have to wait for support; that they could get help 24 hours a day should they need it and speak to a professional within 24 hours.

"They would have counselling in a way that suited them be that at home or in the local community.

"I don’t think any of us there that night thought that we would have made it this far but here we are. It breaks my heart that we have so many calls, but I am unbelievably proud of this service, the fact we cover Wales and provide support 24/7 to the people that needs it the most is a wonderful feeling.

"Thank you to all of the volunteers, counsellors and staff who make this possible. Mainly, thank you to those who call and allow us to help you Share the Load.”

The DPJ Foundation are urging people to take notice of the people around them, loved ones, neighbour, and those in their community.

The charity offers mental health awareness training for free; the three-and-a-half hour session allows people to learn how they can support others in the farming community here in Wales as well as themselves.

It will enable people to know how to recognise the signs of someone with poor mental health, how to support them, how to access help and also how to care for people's own mental health.

They are also running bereavement and grief awareness sessions which are free thanks to funding from the Welsh Government.

To find out more or to book, head over to the DPJ Foundation website at https://www.thedpjfoundation.co.uk/training/

The DPJ Foundation is also calling for people's help to spread the word about the Share the Load helpline by displaying posters, leaflets, car, trailer, and bale stickers anywhere that they can.