Rural charity in new tie-up with two major banks

The Farming Community Network (FCN) has teamed up with leading banks NatWest and Lombard to help spot people living and working in rural areas struggling with mental health.

NatWest and Lombard agriculture sector teams have received dedicated training from the FCN, enabling them to spot the early signs of stress and mental health challenges among farmers and their families.

This, in turn, will allow them to offer timely support and guidance through their network of face-to-face agricultural specialist managers, helping customers to access FCN’s wellbeing resources, while supporting mental health awareness and resilience within the agricultural sector.

See also: Farmers’ Ball raises more than £25,000 for charity FCN

Rachael Watson, head of agriculture at Lombard, said: “As a bank serving over 40,000 farming customers across the UK, we believe that it’s essential to support the wellbeing of the farming community.”

Ms Watson added that by partnering with the charity and embedding wellbeing awareness into every customer interaction, the bank is committed to ensuring farmers and their families have access to practical support.

“Our agricultural specialists have completed FCN’s wellbeing training, equipping them to understand and address the unique challenges faced by farmers today,” she added.

Georgina Lamb, head of partnerships for FCN, said: “By working together, we can reach more individuals with essential information, resources, and a listening ear, helping them manage stress and build resilience for the future.”

Further support

The UK and Ireland branch of John Deere has also recently announced the FCN as its charitable cause for 2026.

The commitment will see staff receive specialist wellbeing support training, as well as opening the door to a range of volunteering opportunities.

“We all have a responsibility to safeguard the health and wellbeing of those living and working in rural areas,” said Joedy Ibbotson, division business manager at John Deere.