A ‘training the trainer’ programme is to train professionals who work closely with farming families, to support conversations around sensitive topics such as succession planning.
It comes as the industry's attention is focused on the need for farming families to plan for the future, and the lack of trained professionals that they can turn to for help.
The Prince’s Countryside Fund will be piloting the project. The charity says there is a need for more staff to be trained, to help facilitate conversations around succession and planning for the future.
Maddy Fitzgerald, Programme Manager at The Prince’s Countryside Fund said: “This will ensure that there is support available for farming families to help with making difficult decisions during this period of transition. We hope that this programme helps prepare those working in the agricultural support sector, to ensure a diverse farming landscape for the future."
The workshops, delivered by Heather Wildman of Saviour Associates, will train up to 20 individuals on a one-day course in numerous areas, such as looking at the challenges faced by farming families and training in how to handle difficult conversations.
The first session is being run in conjunction with Rural Support Northern Ireland and attended by representatives from that organisation, the Ulster Farmers Union, the Young Farmers Clubs and the banking sector.
Following this pilot session, further training days will be rolled out in Wales, Scotland and England in 2019.
