Charity Focus: The DPJ Foundation
Who are you, and what do you do? We support mental health in agriculture. We have a free and confidential 24/7 support line called ‘ShareThe Load’. All calls are answered by our Samaritans trained volunteers. Our Share The Load volunteers can provide a referral, to access free counselling support.
We also support the agricultural community by training those who work in or alongside agriculture. Our Awareness Training provides agricultural and rural communities with the tools to spot the signs of poor mental health and also, the knowledge of where to turn for support.
What are the organisation’s short-term and long- term goals? Alongside our support and training, we want to raise as much awareness as possible around poor mental health in agriculture, to reduce the stigma, prevent suicide, and to support farmers and our agricultural communities.
How has the money raised been used in recent years? All donations go directly to supporting our Welsh farming community. A course of potentially life- saving counselling through our Share the Load service can be provided for 1 person at a cost of around £400.
Are you looking for more people to become involved? Apply on our website to join our team - whether that is raising awareness and challenging the stigma as one of our Regional Champion volunteers, or being at the end of the phone to support those who need help, as a Share The Load volunteer.
How can people donate? If you feel like you would like to donate to The DPJ Foundation please visit: www.thedpjfoundation.co.uk/support-us or, if you’re interested in fundraising for us, please contact us for a fundraising pack: office@thedpjfoundation.co.uk
Anything else you’d like our readers to know? Our Hywel Davies cattle lorry is on the road and travelling to local livestock markets. It’s a private and confidential space to discuss your physical and mental health. Head to our social media to find out more.
Contact details: To talk to someone on our 24/7 Share The Load helpline, call 0800 587 4262, or text 07860 048 799.