Jonathan Glen and Alan Walker, students Harper Adams University are raising awareness of the impact of mental health issues in the agricultural community. Read their story here:

The suicide rate in agriculture is nearly three times that of the accidental death rate. On average 84 people take their lives in the British agricultural community. It comes down to charities like the Farming Community Network (see below for details) to be there for farmers who are struggling with mental health. Having had my own battle with mental health, I appreciate the seriousness of their cause. Hence, to raise £5,000 and increase the awareness of mental health in agriculture, this summer my travel companion Alan Walker and I are going to drive a highly inappropriate Mazda MX-5 from London to Mongolia. We will be tackling some of the most challenging roads in the world including the famed Pamir Highway on a 10,000 mile route to Mongolia. If that wasn’t hard enough. I will be driving back again….

As well as fundraising, I will be documenting my emotional and mental journey through a video diary called MyMentalJourney to show how anyone could battle with mental health and how important it is to talk about it. You can see the first instalment by following this link:

https://youtu.be/Ad3dAsbnEQs

Support their adventure by donating online: https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/mymentaljourney

 

The Farming Community Network (FCN) is a charity and voluntary organisation that supports farmers and families within the farming community through difficult times, whether the issue is personal or business related. Our confidential natioanl helpline is open every day of the year from 7am-11pm.

Each year we enter a joint Triangulate and Romsey Abbey team in the Rotary Relay Marathon – running as Exercising Spirit and Mind. This year there were over 130 teams taking part, all of which helped to make the made the day a true community event. Grateful thanks to all our runners and thanks to all those who sponsored the team. The donations will be put to very good use.

Romsey Abbey held its 10th Mental Health Awareness service, this year focusing on young people and the pressures they face.

Led by members of the youth group the sermon was replaced by a series of scenarios written by the young people themselves. Each scenario concentrated on a specific issue commonly faced by young people – the issues of confidence, bullying, family relationships and moving into the world of work, and summarised by Heidi Gower.

Rev David Potterton and Rev Nik Gower had prepared a service which enabled the congregation to consider the wider issues of mental ill health faced by so many. Bridget Brook, founding Trustee of Triangulate, spoke about how the Abbey had supported the work of Triangulate over the last ten years and reminded everyone that the need to speak out was as strong now and into the future as it had been when the charity was formed.

After the service there was the opportunity to sponsor the Youth Group Sleep Out (scheduled for Friday 6th April in the South Garth. The funds will come to Triangulate and then be disbursed to charities working with young people.

The ‘Faces of You’ photographic exhibition which is raising awareness of suicide, currently on display in the Abbey, was featured on BBC South Today on 7th September 2017. The report included interviews with those impacted by suicide including Bridget Brook from ‘Triangulate’ who talked about the huge pressures facing people today.

As part of the 2017 Romsey Festival, the bollards in Romsey were yarnbombed and one of the many colourful yarn creations was produced to promote Triangulate.

The Triangulate tree design bollard cover has been knitted, crocheted and needle-felted by Rachel Brenton, Diane Kingston and Helen Griffith. The bollard cover, which features an array of colourful flowers and butterflies, and a bird nesting on top, is full of symbolism.

There are triangles on the trunk representing Triangulate, a pair of arms forms a hug around the trunk to highlight the need to look after ourselves and others and the tree itself represents the Tree of Life Café in Romsey (which runs on a Monday afternoon upstairs in Café Nero, from 3-5pm). The bird on her eggs represents the need for us all to care and nurture those around us, flowers symbolise how we can bloom when given the opportunity and butterflies reflect new life growing and blossoming from old.

Huge thanks to Rachel, Diane and Helen – a lovely addition to Romsey Festival 2017 activities.

We were delighted to be asked to talk about Triangulate at the Mayor of Test Valley’s Civic Service.

Together with representatives from the Andover Parkinson’s Group the Mayor, Cllr Carl Borg-Neal asked two questions: tell us about what you do and what impact does your work have.

Afterwards we were able to chat with guests and to have more detailed conversations.

We’ve bought a series of booklets on a range of topics – they are all free and can be picked up from our stand in Romsey Abbey. Please have a look – they’ve got useful, practical tips on how to deal with many aspects of keeping ourselves well.

And whilst there, do take a fun triangle-shaped highlighter – our first ever promotional item – we’d love you to have them to spread the word about our work.

Topics include: Later Life, Overcoming Fear and Anxiety, Sleep, Exercise, Mindfulness, Stress – all published by the Mental Health Foundation

We were delighted to enter a team in the fifth Relay Marathon organised by Romsey Rotary Club. 90 teams took part this year and with another warm, sunny morning times we enjoyed cheering all the runners round the track and seeing lots of friends running for a whole range of local charities. Our team completed in a time of 3 hours 37 minutes 57 seconds – thank you to you all again. A total of £1020 was raised to be shared equally between Triangulate and Romsey Abbey.

The Chamber hosted their first Business Fair in the Crosfield Hall as an opportunity for businesses who do not have a shop window in the town centre to meet the public and other businesses. We were delighted to have lots of positive conversations and to be able to give out lots of information booklets

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