Mind Your Head campaign wins royal approval

This year's Mind Your Head campaign, which runs from February 10-14, received the royal seal of approval after The Prince of Wales joined the panel of a new Farm Safety Foundation discussion group.

The charity, also known as Yellow Wellies, travelled to Carnoustie in Scotland to launch ‘In Discussion With…' a new series of roundtable events devised to learn more about the thoughts and feelings of various groups to both farming safely and looking after their mental well-being.

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The event, at East Scryne Farm, was the first of four planned across the UK in 2025 and gathered together some members of the Scottish Association of Young Farmers Clubs to learn about the challenges of loneliness and rural isolation in advance of this year's Mind Your Head campaign.

Mental health

The young farmers from the Angus area were, however, royally surprised when, during the discussions, The Duke of Rothesay (as he is referred to north of the border) popped in to join the conversation.

Stephanie Berkeley, manager of the Farm Safety Foundation said the Prince had contacted the charity as he said it was important to break down any ‘taboos and stigmas around mental health' and wanted to add his support.

Prince William said: "I love the countryside and I love farming as well. And I am conscious that it is an area that needs maybe a little bit of support and understanding that there is access and support out there for young farmers.

"I think in the farming world it is maybe not talked about as much as in other sectors – and yet we know it exists."

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During his hour-long visit, Prince William, who oversees 130,000 acres of farmland on the Duchy of Cornwall estate met five members of local young farmers clubs and SAYFC national chair Ally Brunton at the roundtable hosted by Ms Berkeley.

Prince William asked the young farmers what they do to look after their well-being. Twenty-two-year-old William Grant, past chair of Strathmore JAC and from a family mixed arable and beef farm beside Auchterhouse said: "It is a constant cycle of work, work, work, but then if there is a Young Farmers meeting you might just go to that."

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When asked what they would do if they noticed someone was struggling or if they were struggling themselves, Lois Scott a Primary School teacher and member of Forfar JAC said: "You sometimes do not realise you need help until you have had it. Sometimes it takes someone saying, ‘Are you okay'? We (SAYFC) have the ‘Are Ewe OK?' campaign and Yellow Wellies can give you a lot of help."

The roundtable took place at a strawberry farm run by James and Kate Porter, Prince William was also shown some of the polytunnels damaged by the recent Storm Eowyn. Something that James pointed out was just one more thing adding stress and challenge to farming life but this was farming was all about. Starting again, staying optimistic and constantly learning.

Royal

Ms Berkeley said: "It was an absolute honour to have His Royal Highness join our roundtable. We are a small charity and have been running this campaign for eight years now so, to have such a high-profile guest interested in what we are doing gives the issue greater visibility."

The Mind Your Head campaign is aimed at raising awareness of the various challenges facing the UK's farming industry, break down the stigma attached to poor mental health, and sow the seeds of wellbeing and resilience in the sector.

Ms Berkeley said: "Farming has always been one of the most demanding industries, but the added strain of long hours, rural isolation and financial insecurity is putting farmers at risk. For us to change the cultural reluctance to discuss mental health, we need to listen and learn what farmers are feeling, what their attitudes are and what they are doing to address it themselves."

For more information about the campaign, or the work of the charity, visit: yellowwellies.org