Mental health to reap rewards of farmer’s fund
FARMER Jimmy Dickinson has launched a new charitable fund to support Kirklees voluntary organisations working to improve mental health amongst children and adults.
Mr Dickinson, owner of Holmfirth-based dairy producer Longley Farm, has set up The Jimmy Dickinson Fund.
In Kirklees, 42,000 people aged 18-64 have a common mental health disorder, and men are at a higher risk than women of suicide; especially in the 25-39 and over 80 age brackets; which reflects the findings nationally.
Increasingly, young people are suffering because of peer group pressure, and an increasing use of social media. In Kirklees, one in 25 boys, and one in 10 girls cut or hurt themselves, if they have a problem or feel stressed.
Mr Dickinson, whose father Joseph and uncle Edgar started Longley Farm in 1948, said: “We feel that while mental health issues are more readily discussed these days, there is still a reluctance to talk about these problems and for people to seek the help that they need.
“We are particularly aware of the impact that isolation has on people, not just in rural areas, but in our towns and villages.
“It is a common misunderstanding that only older people are at risk of loneliness. A recent study by the Co-op and British Red Cross revealed that over nine million people in the UK, across all adult ages, are either always or often lonely.
“Loneliness can have a big impact on mental health; and is more likely to increase your risk of death. We hope that through our new fund we can provide targeted support to local groups helping people with mental health issues; and that they will then make a real difference to local people’s lives for years to come.”
Mandy Fawcett, head of personnel at Longley Farm, said “Providing the correct support for our staff has been a key focus for a number of years now and we recognise the importance of this from our own experience.
“Longley Farm continues to work hard to promote wellbeing and support our staff in a positive way. Prioritising good mental health is an ongoing commitment of ours and we hope that the Jimmy Dickinson fund will work to improve mental health awareness and support in our wider community.”
One Community, the Kirklees Community Foundation, will manage the fund, and supports many local community organisations and voluntary groups, like luncheon clubs, which work hard to mitigate social isolation and loneliness.
One Community general manager Paul Johnson said: “We are delighted that Jimmy Dickinson has established this fund to help support groups working to address local mental health issues. It has never been a popular topic for open discussion but now happily things are changing and the media are playing their part by encouraging people to discuss their concerns and seek help.”
Groups can apply for up to £1,000 from the fund. It closes on October 18. You can find a link to the online application form and information at www.one-community.org.uk