Reflections on 2025

AS I reflect on the last 12 months, I keep coming back to one number: 4000. That’s how many farmers and crofters that Farmstrong Scotland has engaged with, in person this year. From Orkney to the Borders, and Dumfries to Aberdeenshire, each one of those conversations has helped to reinforce our message - ‘your wellbeing is worth investing in’.

This has been the charity's busiest and most transformative year yet.

In the summer we launched our interactive "How's it Going?" tool - a simple but powerful resource that allows farmers to check in on their own wellbeing

A unique and innovative tool, in just a few minutes anyone can answer questions about how they're really doing and receive a personalised response with relevant content and support options tailored to their results.

The beauty of this tool is its accessibility. Farmers and crofters can use it privately, on any device, in their own time - no pressure. It's a starting point for self-reflection and a bridge to further support, including signposting to one-to-one support services such as RSABI, Breathing Space and Samaritans. It can be used throughout the year, when the user might need different support for different areas, i.e. sleep or stress tips at lambing, or social suggestions after the busy show season has finished. The response has been remarkable, with many telling us it was the first time they'd taken the time to honestly assess their own wellbeing.

Later in the year, and one of our proudest achievements of 2025 was launching what's been called a groundbreaking campaign for the industry. For too long, menopause has been the invisible challenge facing women, who make up a significant part of the workforce in farming and crofting - affecting their physical health, mental wellbeing, and ability to work, yet rarely discussed openly. The campaign gave women permission to talk about it, and men the chance to engage with it, and the response has been overwhelming.

As we move into 2026, the challenges facing Scottish agriculture won't disappear. But I'm convinced we're building something sustainable - a culture where talking about wellbeing is as normal as talking about the weather or the markets and farmers openly share what they do to feel good and function well.

The groundwork laid over the last year gives us a strong foundation, but it also brings us to a critical juncture.

When we launch our new fundraising campaign in January, we will be calling on the industry to get behind us so that we can continue to make a difference. We will also build our Business Club and start growing our network of Farmstrong Supporters - encouraging individuals to get involved and champion the wellbeing message.

We couldn’t be more excited to see where the next year takes us, but one thing is for sure, we will continue to champion the importance of living well, to farm and croft well.

* For more information, head to www.farmstrongscotland.org.uk