Powys council have launched an outreach project focussing on the health and wellbeing of farmers in the area.

Farming Fit, is an outreach service to help meet the health and wellbeing needs of the county’s farming community.

The outreach service will be visiting this year’s Royal Welsh Show and will also see healthcare professionals, council staff and members of the voluntary sector visit livestock markets in Brecon, Builth Wells and Welshpool on a monthly basis from August until December.

It has been developed by Powys County Council, Powys Teaching Health Board, Powys Association of Voluntary Organisations and the Royal Welsh Agricultural Society

Cllr Richard Church, Powys County Council's Cabinet Member for a Safer Powys, said: "I'm delighted that we are working in partnership with the health board and PAVO to offer this important outreach project.

"We know that the farming community tend to work long and antisocial hours which means they often have difficulties accessing traditional health and wellbeing services.

"By visiting livestock markets, we're bringing this important health initiative directly to farmers. The project will help to build healthier farming communities and support stronger farm businesses."

The service will offer free healthcare screenings to farmers, which includes a blood pressure check, lifestyle assessments, smoking cessation advice, signposting and awareness of mental wellbeing and support as well as a safe and confidential space for discussion of health.

Chief Executive of the Royal Welsh Agricultural Society, Aled Rhys Jones said: "The Society is delighted that the 'Farming Fit Project' will be launching at this year's Royal Welsh Show.

"As we lead increasingly busy lives, it can be easy to forget to put yourself and your health first.

"This is a brilliant initiative, and we are extremely grateful to all the partner organisations for making this possible. We are proud to support this project and urge as many people as possible to visit during the week."

Mererid Bowley, Director of Public Health, added: "I'm delighted that this health promotion project is developing in partnership to offer opportunistic health promotion and screening to support the farming community. 

“We know that the industry can be very demanding, and this will be an opportunity to have discussion to promote health and wellbeing, offer a listening ear, discuss wellbeing and signpost to community support, and to hear from the community how we can develop this project to support their needs."