A CHARITY which provides support to farmers in difficulty will be able to reach more people after receiving a donation from the Yorkshire Building Society Charitable Foundation.

The Farming Community Network, which is run by 28 volunteers, provides help to farmers and their families facing hardship from ill health, financial problems, relationships and a range of other issues.

At the start of 2016, the charity say they saw a marked increase in demand for their services following a difficult period for farmers, with flooding and falling prices for livestock, milk and crops.

Now they have been given £1,300 from the Yorkshire Building Society Charitable Foundation after being nominated by the society’s branch in Pickering.

Mike Sellers, Farming Community Network volunteer, said: "A lot of farmers are contacting us to tell us about the huge implications these problems are causing coupled with delays in their basic payment schemes. All sectors are struggling at the same time which is unusual and is creating real hardship.

"The donation will enable the charity to buy a gazebo to use when it visits agricultural shows around North Yorkshire and beyond throughout the year.

"A lot of farmers are reluctant to ask for help at the best of times. But by getting out to as many shows as we can, we hope to spread the word of what we do and break down the stigma attached with asking for help."

Yorkshire Building Society Charitable Foundation is funded through a scheme wherein members donate the pennies from the interest on their accounts once a year to help smaller charities and good causes around the UK.

Amanda Haigh, customer representative at the Yorkshire’s branch in Pickering, said: "The Farming Community Network provides a lifeline for many people in our community. Farming in a way of life in our part of the country and we’re keen to do what we can to support it."

For more information, visit fcn.org.uk