Rural partnerships

Rural chaplaincy

Market chaplains are present at key livestock markets, offering support to farmers and traders.

Lorna Hasell – Junction 24, Sedgemoor Livestock Market

David Weir – Cutcombe Market

Neville Dyke – Frome Livestock Market

Each market has a health hub, offering regular contact for farmers with free and accessible health checks. Contact the market chaplain or the livestock market for more details.

If you or someone you know would benefit from rural chaplaincy, or if you’d like to get involved, please contact Rob Walrond, Rural Adviser.

Farm visits, pastoral support and connections to specialist support

We work closely with organisations like the Farming Community Network (FCN) and Somerset Village Agents, providing a compassionate presence for those in agricultural employment.

Arthur Rank Centre

The Arthur Rank Centre (ARC) is an ecumenical Christian charity that serves both the spiritual and practical needs of the rural community through a programme of community and social projects, resourcing and training, notably the Rural Mission and Ministry course, the Germinate Leadership course and the LoveRural conference.

Rural food banks

Church-run foodbanks have multiplied across the UK in the last few years, providing emergency food to households in crisis. Increasing numbers of these are found in rural locations.

Read about the Quantock food bank in our interview with Marlene Mason, Quantock Foodbank Administrator.

Rural Theology Association

The Rural Theology Association aims to educate people in rural theology through research, papers and conferences in order to encourage the development of patterns of ministry and mission appropriate to the countryside.

Farming Community Network (FCN)

The Farming Community Network (FCN) is a Christian organisation and registered charity which has been working in the farming community since 1995. Comprised of a network of volunteers organised into county groups, FCN provides pastoral and practical support for as long as needed – helping people to find a positive way forward through their problems.

To contact the Farming Community Network, email Charmain Dascombe, FCN Regional Support Manager.

National Farmers’ Union

The National Farmers’ Union (NFU) champions British farming and provides professional representation and services to its farmer and grower members across England and Wales. The NFU is the British farming trade association, providing professional representation on the issues that affect farmers most.

Somerset Community Foundation and Somerset Village Agents

Somerset Community Foundation works to promote vibrant, inclusive communities in Somerset through developing a culture of local giving and enabling voluntary groups to combat disadvantage and isolation. Somerset Village Agents is a project of Community Council for Somerset (CCS) and provides people in Somerset’s rural communities with easier access to information and services. Village Agents live in the communities they serve and help to bridge the gap between isolated, excluded, vulnerable and lonely individuals and statutory and/or voluntary organisations which offer specific solutions to identified needs.

Somerset Young Farmers’ Club

 Somerset Young Farmers’ Club has clubs across the region, in five district groups. Somerset YFC is all about getting like-minded young people to have fun whilst learning new activities and skills. It is open to anyone aged between 10 and 26 years who has an interest in the rural community.

Who to contact