²ÝÁñÉçÇø

Mental health charity's 'Big BBQ' summer campaign

The agricultural mental health charity encouraged people to take a break from their farming life, start up their bbq and bring people and communities together

Rachael Brown
clock • 1 min read
Mental health charity's 'Big BBQ' summer campaign

At this year's Royal Welsh show, the DPJ Foundation have launched their ‘Big BBQ' campaign aimed at combatting rural isolation and bringing families and communities together, whilst raising funds.

Regardless of the weather, the agricultural mental health charity encouraged people to take a break from their farming life, light up the bbq and bring people together to help connect communities and improve mental well-being.

They said one third of calls to the charity's confidential 'Share the Load' helpline are from people who are feeling lonely or isolated. The '5 Ways to Wellbeing' that are backed by the NHS recommend 'connecting with others' and 'giving to others' as two of the ways to improve your mental health.

The DPJ Foundation have launched their ‘Big BBQ' campaign aimed at combatting rural isolation and bringing families and communities together.

Mental health

The DPJ Foundation's charity manager Kate Miles said:

"We know that isolation is an issue for farmers and rural communities and can have a massive impact on mental health. It can be hard to take time out to relax when you are busy, but we know that it is vitally important for boosting resilience.Ìý We came up with the Big BBQ idea as we wanted a fun way to bring people together, whilst also allowing them to raise funds for our charity if they'd like. We hope to see DPJ Big BBQs taking place right across the country!".

Ms Miles added: "It is a great way to back Welsh farming and enjoy some local produce too."

The Big BBQ Pack is available to download from their website

PEDIGREE POLLED HEREFORD BULLS

£±Ê°¿´¡

DOWNGRADE MILK & CREAM

£±Ê°¿´¡

Coyton Barton Herd Reduction Herd

£±Ê°¿´¡

More on Mental Health

'It's been hard lying in hospital thinking how to save my farm': Countryfile segment lays bare mental health toll of IHT reforms

'It's been hard lying in hospital thinking how to save my farm': Countryfile segment lays bare mental health toll of IHT reforms

NFU Cymru Crops Board chair Tom Rees and his family shared their stories on BBC Countryfile, demonstrating the real life impact of the proposed Inheritance Tax reforms

clock 29 October 2025 • 4 min read
Suffolk doctors use Virtual Reality to tackle mental health crisis in farming communities

Suffolk doctors use Virtual Reality to tackle mental health crisis in farming communities

The Rural Minds Project uses the immersive VR storytelling to highlight the lived experiences of farmers and rural workers

clock 21 October 2025 • 2 min read
Researchers working with farming community to improve farmers' mental health

Researchers working with farming community to improve farmers' mental health

Despite the mental health of farmers being a big concern in the healthcare sector, it has been largely overlooked in research in the UK

Alex Black
clock 11 October 2025 • 3 min read