RSABI Offers Post-lambing “MOT” to Farmers at Scotsheep

Farmers attending NSA Scotsheep at the start of next month are being offered the opportunity to benefit from a post-lambing “MOT”, courtesy of Scottish agricultural charity, RSABI. 

RSABI’s Health Hut will be set up at the event on June 5th at Aikengall Farm, near Dunbar, offering attendees the opportunity to have a health check and haircut. 

Health Hut nurse Irene Scott will be taking blood pressures and offering lifestyle advice, and the Kilted Barber from Perth, Campbell Ewen, will be wielding his scissors and clippers during a “trimathon” taking place throughout the day. 

Campbell will be offering his services free of charge and visitors to the event are kindly asked to make a small donation in exchange for a trim or, alternatively, they can give a donation to see someone in need of a barber’s services being tidied up! 

The idea behind the MOT at Scotsheep is to raise a smile after a difficult spring and lambing season, while raising awareness of the wide range of support RSABI offers and encouraging farmers to take care of their mental and physical wellbeing. 

RSABI offers emotional support – counselling can be arranged quickly – and practical help, including farm business reviews, as well as a wide range of financial support and free dyslexia assessments for farmers over 40. 

RSABI and the Health Hut team visited the Hamilton family, hosts of Scotsheep, this week as the family were busy making their final preparations for what promises to be a wonderful event. 

After a challenging lambing season and hectic period gearing up to the event, Irene and Campbell were pleased to offer event host James Hamilton an MOT, watched by an intrigued senior sheepdog Bob and apprentice, pup Gerard. 

“We hope people will enjoy a free MOT at our Health Hut at Scotsheep. It promises to be a great day out, providing a real tonic after a tough spring and the opportunity to catch up with lots of people and support each other,” said Carol McLaren, Chief Executive of RSABI. 

“While the trimathon will offer some light-hearted entertainment for onlookers too, our MOT has a very serious message about the importance of farmers looking after themselves. Farmers are fantastic at helping other people in rural communities around the country but can sometimes forget to look after themselves properly and we hope our offer of a Scotsheep MOT will help to remind them of how important it is to take a break. 

“Time off the farm and away from work is vital for good mental health and a day like Scotsheep is also a great source of new ideas and we’re looking forward to seeiing some great post-lambing haircuts too!” 

The RSABI Scotsheep Health Hut will be located at stand 39, outside main building 3, across from the VIP/Sponsors’ Marquee. RSABI will also again be encouraging farmers to take a break this summer, with the opportunity to win a four-night stay in a lovely pod, very kindly provided by Lothian Glamping. 

RSABI’s Health Hut initiative brings health and wellbeing expertise to markets and other events in the farming community at a time and place convenient to them, in an environment where they feel comfortable. 

In recent months RSABI has welcomed four new nurses to its Health Hut team to support the roll-out of the initiative to communities across Scotland. 

A Health Hut roadshow is planned for the summer shows and the RSABI nurses will also be in action at marts around the country, including Thainstone this Friday, May 24 next Thursday 30th May and Caithness Livestock Centre on Monday 19th August. Further dates around the country will be announced shortly. 

RSABI offers free practical, financial, and emotional support including counselling services, delivered quickly after receiving the initial enquiry. Its free, confidential support service is available 24 hours a day, every day of the year, by calling 0808 1234 555 or through a confidential webchat service, available on RSABI’s website www.rsabi.org.uk. 

Tickets for Scotsheep are available to buy at https://scotsheep.org.uk/event-information/tickets/