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Following on from the success of the first ‘Mind Your Head’ charity ball, a second one has been planned for Saturday 16thNovember in aid of the Farm Safety Foundation (Yellow Wellies) in Northumberland.

The Farm Safety Foundation (Yellow Wellies) is the charity behind the ‘Mind Your Head’ campaign which was established to raise awareness of the huge mental health crisis within agriculture as well as preserve and protect the mental wellbeing of farmers and people moving into agriculture. In its annual tracker research conducted in October last year, 95% of farmers under the age of 40 cited poor mental health as the biggest hidden problem facing farmers today. A 13% increase since 2018. The Office of National Statistics registered 102 suicides in England and Wales by people working in the agricultural related trades in 2019, and a further 31 in Scotland, in 2019.

The ‘Mind Your Head’ charity ball was the brainchild of Caitlin Riddell, a former Young Farmer now farming alongside her husband in the Scottish Borders. Not only did Caitlin survive her own battle with mental health six years ago but sadly, this year alone, has connections with two farming faces lost to suicide in the Borders.

"These charities are a lifeline for a lot of people, and if this event can help spread the message that it’s okay not to be okay and encourage even one person to reach out or start a conversation, then it’s a step in the right direction," said Caitlin. 

With this in mind, and to maximise the amount raised from the ball for the charity, ‘Mind Your Head’ is looking for any donations and/or sponsorships and any branded merchandise would be welcome for raffle prizes. In return for which, the charity will ensure that sponsors receive as much exposure as possible both at and from the ball. 

If you would like to make a donation, or get involved with the event in any way, please contact Caitlin at mindyourheadball@hotmail.com.