The ANM Group Charitable Trust has awarded £7,500 of funding to Scottish agricultural charity RSABI to support the Health Hut initiative to improve the physical and mental wellbeing of Scottish farmers and crofters.

The award of the funding follows a successful trial of the Health Hut initiative at ANM Group’s Thainstone Centre where hundreds of blood pressures have been taken over the past 12 months, along with initiatives such as cholesterol testing and early diabetes detection.

The support from the Group’s Charitable Trust will allow the Health Hut, run by RSABI with health professionals with farming backgrounds, to join ANM Group at a host of summer shows in the northeast for the next three years.

The Health Hut will be present on ANM Group’s stand at the following agricultural shows:

• New Deer Show on the 20^th July
• Black Isle Show on the 1^st August
• Turriff Show on the 4^th and 5^th August
• Grantown Show on the 8^th August
• Keith Show on the 10^th August

The Health Hut initiative aims to encourage individuals working in the Scottish agricultural industry to take a more proactive approach to improving their health and provides farmers with an opportunity to receive general health checks. They also have the opportunity to discuss any physical or mental health concerns they may have in confidence with health care professionals.

Grant Rogerson, Chief Executive of ANM Group, said “After the success of the pilot initiative, we are delighted that the Trustees of the Group’s Charitable Trust have agreed to support the next stages of the project, with RSABI joining us at this year’s agricultural shows, to continue the health huts vital work in making healthcare accessible for all members and customers and northeast farmers.

Initiatives like this offer valuable support for individuals working in the agricultural industry, we would encourage all members, customers and visitors to make the most of Health Hut’s services over the course of this summer show season.”

The Health Hut aims to break down the barriers many farmers face due to long working hours in remote locations. Through RSABI’s initiatives, the Health Hut provides an accessible opportunity to encourage farmers to take steps to prioritise their health and wellbeing during a convenient time, in an environment where they are comfortable.

Carol McLaren, Chief Executive of RSABI, said “The charity was delighted to receive the grant from the ANM Group Charitable Trust.

The grant is a very welcome boost to the Health Hut initiative which is proving so popular and beneficial to farmers and those working in the wider agricultural community.

It has been wonderful to see the way our nurses have been welcomed at Thainstone and the opportunity to take a strong health and wellbeing message – both physical and mental – on the road to agricultural shows throughout the summer will see the project move to a new level.”