With over 110 years’ farming knowledge and expertise, NFU Mutual know the industry inside out and understand the challenges farmers face. That’s why they aim to make positive impacts on the welfare of those working and living in rural communities across the South West.  

Championing charities via NFU Mutual’s Agency Giving Fund

NFU Mutual is uniquely positioned to understand the issues affecting members and their communities via its agency network of 43 local offices across the South West.

In 2024, NFU Mutual’s Agent and offices in the South West nominated 56 local charities in the region, including Devon Air Ambulance, RABI, and Mind in Somerset, to receive a combined donation of more than £292,900, from a national £1.92m Agency Giving Fund launched by the Head Office of rural insurer NFU Mutual.

Supporting the next generation in agriculture

With the continued support of NFU Mutual, the Farm Safety Foundation delivered farm safety and mental health training to over 4,300 young farmers in 2023. The Farm Safety Foundation (Yellow Wellies) is an independent charity that aims to raise awareness of, and address the attitudes and behaviours around, risk-taking, and poor mental health in the agricultural sector throughout the UK.

The charity doesn’t just raise awareness of farm safety, it is continuing to drive a real cultural change in attitudes and behaviours to risk-taking and poor mental health in the next generation of farmers through its ambitious education programme, resources, research, and award-winning national campaigns.

Furthermore, funded by the NFU Mutual Charitable Trust is NFU Mutual’s Centenary Award. The award aims to support innovation and research in UK agriculture while also championing passionate individuals who demonstrate the potential to make an impact in the industry. 2023 saw three successful applicants, including Peter Reis, a Young Farmer member from Cornwall.

Also supported by the NFU Mutual Charitable Trust is the National Federation of Young Farmers' Clubs, with £38,000 donated in 2023. Alongside national support, NFU Mutual is proud to sponsor three Young Farmer Federations across the South West.

Helping to tackle rural crime

NFU Mutual releases an annual Rural Crime Report to provide a unique insight into trends and the cost of rural theft in the UK. Every year they gather claims statistics, survey people in the heart of our rural communities, and seek views from experts from across police, farming unions, and charities to provide a detailed picture of rural crime’s financial and social impact. In addition, since 2021 NFU Mutual has invested over £1 million support initiatives to tackle rural crime and, in 2023, becoming a major funder of the new National Rural Crime Unit.

But NFU Mutual don’t plan on stopping there, and in the years to come NFU Mutual will continue to champion members and their communities. To find out more about how NFU Mutual are Protecting Rural Lives and Livelihoods, visit: Responsible Business | NFU Mutual