Farming Fit project presented to Full Council at County Hall
An innovative project supporting the health and wellbeing of farmers in Powys was presented to Full Council at County Hall this week (5th March).
Farming Fit, an award-winning integrated project delivered in partnership with PAVO, Powys County Council (PCC), Powys Teaching Health Board (PTHB), and the wider Powys Agri Wellbeing Support Network (PAWS), takes free health checks directly to farming communities at livestock markets across the county.
The initiative was officially launched two years ago at the Royal Welsh Show and aims to reach farmers in places where they already gather.
The project was developed to address some of the unique challenges faced by the farming community, including long working hours, a reluctance to engage with healthcare professionals, and a culture of self-managing health concerns.
Multi-agency partnership
Councillors heard from several partners involved in delivering the project:
- Sharon Healey, PAVO Head of Health, Wellbeing and Partnerships
- Rhiannon Hobbes, Principal Public Health Practitioner at PTHB
- Greg Langridge-Thomas, Senior Manager for Community Health Protection and Wellbeing at PCC
- Amanda Thomas, representing the DPJ Foundation, a mental health charity supporting people in the agricultural sector
- John Williams, PAVO Senior Officer Health, Information, Engagement and Participation
The speakers explained how the project focuses on prevention and early support, helping farmers access advice and signposting them to relevant services. Farming Fit does not replace existing health services, but helps people connect with them earlier.
Building trust in rural communities
A key success of Farming Fit has been the trust it has built within the farming community. By taking services directly to livestock markets and working closely with partners across health, local government and the voluntary sector, the project has created a service that has been co-produced through a shared vision.
Since launching two years ago, Farming Fit has:
- Delivered 67 outreach sessions at livestock markets
- Completed 1,238 health checks
- Advised 119 people to arrange follow-up appointments with primary care services
Looking ahead
While Farming Fit was designed primarily with Powys farmers in mind, partners believe the model could benefit other communities as well.
The council heard that the approach will now be adapted for two new pilot programmes:
- Well@Work – a project targeting major employers in Powys to support workforce health and wellbeing
- Door2Health – a pilot delivering targeted doorstep support to more urban populations in three areas of the county
By adapting the successful Farming Fit model, partners aim to improve health outcomes for more people across Powys.