Fresh Start Academy Update
A Fresh Start Academy summer newsletter is now available and gives a round-up of progress from academies across England, useful contacts and details of future events.
Annual Convention: Brook survey
If you attended this year’s annual convention then you will have found it difficult not to have seen the Brook stand in registration or spoken to one of the Brook workers during the evening events. We would be very grateful if you could take 30 seconds to complete our online survey to help us gain feedback about the information given and help plan for next year’s Annual Convention.
New learning tool to reduce confusion about waste regulations
The new NetRegs Agricultural Learning Tool, www.netregs.gov.uk/learning offers farming businesses plain-English guidance on issues relating to the Waste Management Regulations.
The tool has been developed in conjunction with the farming community and includes six learning modules to help the user fully understand how to manage farm waste.
For more information visit www.netregs.gov.uk/learning
Help shape your industry
Can you help Lantra with a project on knowledge and skills in the land-based sector?
Take part in an on-line survey to make sure you have a say in skills, training and qualifications development in your industry. You can help improve future careers information and dispel some of the misconceptions about what is involved in a career in the land-based sector. If you work in the sector please take part visit www.lantra.co.uk/jobconsulter - survey ends 31 May.
Annual Convention 2008
Over 5000 Young Farmers’ Club (YFC) members descended on Blackpool for a weekend of ‘fun, learning and achievement’ as part of the National Federation of Young Farmers’ Clubs’ (NFYFC) Annual Convention. A full line up of activities provided members with plenty of choice from participating in discussion forums and supporting competition finalists, to attending the AGM and enjoying social events.
Members were given the opportunity to discuss with top industry leaders their ideas, concerns and ideas for future policy with Country Land and Business Association (CLA) President, Henry Aubrey-Fletcher and National Farmers Union (NFU) Deputy President Meurig Raymond. Shadow Minister for Agriculture and Rural Affairs James Paice MP and Liberal Democrat MP for Westmorland and Lonsdale,Tim Farron, led a discussion on ‘Rural Living’ and members joined Rory Clarke, Director of Rix Petroleum and Rix Biofuels to talk about the problems and opportunities in the ‘Future Energy’ group.
Members excelled themselves as they took part in the national competitions finals. Renditions of ‘Falling’ by Alicia Keys, and ‘Time to Say Goodbye’ by Katherine Jenkins were heard in the ‘Stars in your Eyes’ competition. Five counties took to the stage in the performing arts competition and Suzanne Lovatt from Staffordshire YFC won the prestigious Senior Member of the Year trophy.
Members took an active role in the democracy of their organisation at the AGM. They voted on a national levy increase, presented reports from the four national steering groups as well as presenting trophies for members’ achievements.
Finally, NFYFC was delighted that Brook was able to attend the event to highlight its work and offer advice and information to members.
NFYFC's Annual Convention photo gallery
Annual Convention competition results
Farmers Guardian questionnaire
At Farmers Guardian we take a serious note of every bit of feedback from our younger readers.
We recognise and fully support the vital role young people play in the future of farming and the Youngstock section aims to cover national news and topical issues that effect young people who are working in the industry or play an active role in their local Young Farmers Clubs.
Credit: © FARMERS GUARDIAN please contact 01772 799445
The questionnaire below is designed to help us continue developing the Youngstock section of the newspaper and its range of content so that we can ensure we are writing about the issues that matter to young people working and living in rural communities.
We would also be very grateful if you could spend five minutes completing the questions found at www.farmersguardian.com
Every response will be placed into a prize draw and first name out of the hat will receive £250. The first five runners up will also receive £50 each.
We value your opinions.
Danusia Osiowy
Features Editor, Farmers Guardian
Tel: 01772 799413 www.farmersguardian.com
Annual Convention 2008 photos!
If you have any suitable photos, please e-mail them to kevyn.williams@nfyfc.org.uk along with your full name, county, and club
Click here to see the gallery
Farmers Guardian Sponsorship
Farmers Guardian is teaming up with the National Federation of Young Farmers Clubs on a number of new initiatives in a bid to recognise the hard work and talent of members nationwide.
The national agricultural newspaper will be announcing new projects throughout the year and supporting key events on the YFC calendar. This year the newspaper will be sponsoring the National Senior Member of the Year Competition Final at the AGM, where Features Editor Danusia Osiowy will present the award to the worthy winner during Sunday’s Annual General Meeting.
Representatives from Farmers Guardian will be available during registration at the AGM where you will have the opportunity to find out more about their special offers and promotions, designed specifically to benefit YFC members.
Affordable Rural Housing
Need to know more about affordable rural housing? NFYFC is working in partnership with the English Rural Housing Association to give YFC members up-to-date information and advice. English Rural Housing Association will be amongst the many industry exhibitors at the Annual Convention’s Agriculture and Rural Affairs Forum on 3 May in Blackpool.
Please click here for more informaiton
Special Subscription Offer for NFYFC Members
Farmers Guardian has got together with NFYFC to bring you a unique subscription deal. We are offering members 30% off our normal subscription price. That’s an annual saving of £24.90, making Farmers Guardian just £1.11 an issue. Plus every NFYFC member that subscribes will also receive a £10 record voucher.
Every week the paper delivers the latest industry news and developments. From the extension of bluetongue Surveillance Zones to the pros and cons of genetically modified crops. Farmers Guardian is also an enthusiastic supporter of young people in the industry. The paper hosts ‘Youngstock’ - a dedicated weekly section for younger readers including the latest college and YFC news, new entrant case studies plus extensive reporting from NFYFC AGM and other national YFC events. Farmers Guardian is also proud to support many events for young people including the prestigious Dairy Farmer of the Future Awards and ‘All-Britain All-Breeds’ calf show.
To take advantage of this fantastic subscription offer, and claim your £10 record voucher, simply click here or call our subscription hotline on 01858 438893 quoting reference FGNY.
Offer closes on the 30th June. Act now to take advantage of this unique offer.
Royal Show 2008
The 2008 Royal Show, proudly organised by the Royal Agricultural Society of England, is to take place from Thursday 3rd July to Sunday 6th July inclusive. The Show remains committed to promoting the Best of British Farming and also to providing an excellent family day out with action-packed entertainment for the whole family to enjoy!
The Royal Show team, in conjunction with the NFYFC is delighted to offer Young Farmers Club members a special ticket price of £11 per ticket if you purchase tickets in advance before 29th June 2008.
To take advantage of advanced ticket prices simply book online at www.royalshow.org.uk/tickets or call 0871 230 5590.
Results of the Your Future and Farming on-line survey
The results of the 2007 Your Future and Farming survey are now available. The on-line survey was conducted by NFYFC as a way of finding out about some of the concerns and issues surrounding young people as they enter into farming and was supported by the National Trust and Fresh Start.
Please click here to see the results
Brook to attend NFYFC Annual Convention
NFYFC is delighted that Brook, the national voluntary sector provider of free and confidential health advice and services specifically for young people, is able to attend the Annual Convention for a second year following a successful bid to the Department of Health. Brook advisors will be available in the registration area and throughout the weekend to talk to members and offer essential advice and information.
NFYFC supports RABI Welly Week 11 – 18 October 2008
RABI Welly Week is an exciting fundraising campaign for RABI. The idea is to take part in any activity involving wellies between 11-18 October 2008. RABI hopes to use this opportunity to not only raise funds but to raise awareness amongst people who might not necessarily have heard of our work. The money raised will go towards funding the special equipment such as stairlifts, riser/recliner chairs and electrically powered vehicles, which RABI frequently provide. In addition to this it could help with home adaptations to accommodate people with disabilities.
The NFYFC is very pleased to back this campaign. RABI will be represented at the NFYFC Annual Convention in Blackpool where more information about Welly Week will be available. We hope too that we can welcome RABI to the NFYFC Sports and Speaking Finals to be held at Staffordshire Showground on Saturday 11th October.
Click here for further information from the RABI website this includes a fundraising pack that can be downloaded.
If you have any ideas for an event or would like to be involved please RABI Head Office on 01865 724931.
Whats new in the Agriculture and Rural Affairs section?
Find out who your YFC industry reps are and how to voice your concerns or input your ideas
Have a say in choosing the next on-line survey
See what’s planned for this year’s Agriculture & Rural Affairs Forum at the Annual Convention
CAP Health Check – visit the EU Commissioner’s blog
ARAC newsletter
www.nfyfc.org.uk/agriculture.html
YFC takes centre pages in February’s Youth Work Now magazine
The national magazine, Youth Work Now, has written a feature on Rural Realities focusing on Wythall YFC in Worcestershire and the National Federation of Young Farmers’ Clubs...
“Young Farmers' Clubs are known for their work with the offspring of well-healed country folk. But there is far more to the organisation than glamorous balls, writes Tom de Castella.” The full article is available from the Children and Young People Now website www.youthworknow.co.uk
Need to know more about what goes on in Brussels?
A dedicated YFC breakout session on European policy was held at the NFU Centenary Conference, YFC members will have the opportunity to receive a copy of the British Agriculture Bureau (BAB) newsletter.
Year of Food and Farming
Keep up to date with progress of the Year of Food and Farming by clicking here to read the latest newsletter
NFYFC new newsletter name
Update: Please see the results below for the NFYFC newsletter name, as voted for by the members!
NFYFC council has shortlisted two of the suggested names put forward from the December Chairman's Day and now invites YFC members to vote for the publication title.
The first newsletter is due to be published in April 2008
NFYFC/Non-Food Crops Centre 2008 Study tour to Germany
7–9 April 2008
By courtesy of FNR (German Agency for Renewable Resources)
In response to requests from last year’s ARAC Forum in Torquay, NFYFC - in conjunction with the National Non-Food Crops Centre (NNFCC) - is inviting YFC members to take part in a three-day study tour of German farming systems incorporating renewable technology on various enterprises.
Defra has kindly agreed to make a financial contribution towards the cost of the tour. Final costs will depend on the number of individuals taking part; the maximum cost will be £100 per person. All travel costs, food and accommodation included in the price.
Deadline for registering your place is Monday 18 February
Useful documents
Programme and reply slip
IGD helping you to develop knowledge and career skills
IGD is a charity that educates people in the food and grocery industry and Leading Edge is IGD’s development and networking forum for these managers. Membership is free and relevant to all those involved in food production and associated industries, offering members the chance to develop career skills as well as interact with like-minded people. Visit www.leadingedge.igd.com to view events, news and further information. IGD offers information, research and leading edge best practice to help grow business and develop people.
For further information on current Master Class events please download this document
Chairman’s Day 2007 (9th December 2007, Coventry)
Chairmen and Vice Chairman of 30 county federations and several Area Chairmen joined the national office holders and staff of the National Federation of Young Farmers’ Clubs on Sunday 9th December 2007. Delegates met with the NFYFC Chairman of Council, Dan Halliday (Oxfordshire), and the Vice Chairmen of Council, Bryce Mackellar (Staffordshire) and Helen Roberts (Montgomeryshire). Also the chairmen of the NFYFC Steering Groups - Peter Garbutt (Yorkshire) Agriculture and Rural Affairs; Julia Sparkes (Yorkshire) Competitions; Christine Hope (Herefordshire) Personal Development; Mark Thomas (Somerset) represented the Events Steering Group.
The day included an overview of the work of the NFYFC, a presentation and discussion on effective communication was led by Hugh Broom, Farmers Weekly Columnist and Capitol Radio host and a presentation from Lantra was given by Mike Appleyard, Lantra’s Regional Partnership Manager.
Programme for the day
Welcome & introductions
NFYFC and its work
What skills will you use in your year in office?
Your 3 targets for the year
Effective Communication ~ Hugh Broom, Farmers Weekly
How you can work with NFYFC?
Sharing ideas and good practice
Summary
Useful documents from the day
St George’s Day 2008 School Poetry Competition
For members aged 10-14 years old
Help celebrate the Year of Food and Farming by writing a poem about what food and farming in England means to you. Your poem could be about local food, the farmers who produce it or the chefs who cook it, the beautiful countryside – anything that makes English food and farming special. Winners will receive a silver medal, £150 in book tokens and a certificate.
If you would like to send copies of your entries to NFYFC, please e-mail sarah.palmer@nfyfc.org.uk and these will be displayed on the NFYFC website.
Please click here to download more information
Club Programme Ideas
A new section can be found under ‘Competitions’ which has been written to help club programme secretaries utilise the junior national competitions programme. The competitions programme lends itself brilliantly to be adapted into the club programme as all club members can get to have a go at developing their skills in a non-competitive environment. (Even the senior members can be challenged to show off their talent at plate painting or reading!) For those who wish to go further and enter the competition then the evenings can provide good practice ready for the main event.
If you have any club programme ideas you would like to share please email Youth Development Officer, catherine.sykes@nfyfc.org.uk
Please click here to visit the new club programme ideas section
Recycle your mobile
Re:Cycle Your Mobile teamed up with Young Farmers' Clubs in 2006 to launch a recycling campaign to collect unwanted mobile telephones to help raise important funds for clubs. The recycling initiative is urging people to donate their unwanted mobile phones and help raise cash for local schools. For each recyclable mobile phone donated, your club will receive up to £10.00. Not only is this an easy way to raise funds, it also helps save our environment.
Avian Flu, Foot and Mouth and Bluetongue disease
Following the recent Avian Flu, Foot and Mouth and Bluetongue Disease outbreaks, please be aware of websites which will provide sources of further up-to-date information.
Helpful links:
Defra
Farmers’ Weely offer
NFYFC supports Fresh Start Academy co-ordinators
NFYFC was pleased to support the inaugural Fresh Start Academy Co-ordinators’ Seminar held at the Farmers’ Club, Whitehall, on 23 October. The evening enabled all the current co-ordinators to meet up, share good practice and discuss future plans. Sir Don Curry and NPTC chief executive Jack Ward spoke to the group and helped stimulate discussion on training and the future needs of co-ordinators and members of the Fresh Start Academies. They were joined by a DEFRA press officer who offered each academy support from its regional press department to ensure effective coverage of events and progress.
YFC members elect new officer team
Pictured back left to right are: Bryce Mackellar,
Helen Roberts, Dan Halliday, Mark Thomas
Pictured front left to right are: Peter Garbutt,
Christine Hope, and Julia Sparkes.
NFYFC supports appeal
If you are a farmer needing help, please call the FCN Helpline on 0845 367 9990, RABI on 01865 727888 or ARC-Addington Fund on 024 7669 0587. For more information about the appeal, click here, or visit www.farminghelp.org.uk
Charity begins at home
Training needs survey results
Mike Appleyard from Lantra takes time off from
quizzing YFC members to speak to the
Countess of Wessex
Latest regional news from the South West…
South West Chamber of Rural Enterprise (CoRE) has published its first edition of the South West Year of Food and Farming in Education Newsletter. Aimed at the South West region, you will find the information both interesting and informative. Visit www.swcore.co.uk/sff/yff.htm to find out what’s going on in the region, how you can get involved and links to regional partners.
Your Future and Farming
– NFYFC online survey for all YFC members
What are your plans for a future in farming? NFYFC is running a survey in association with National Trust and Fresh Start. Take part in the survey and you have the chance to win £100 for your club, or £35 for yourself!
Click here to take part in the survey and enter the competition
West Midlands Area YFC's One Day Visioning Conference
Increase capacity of the West Midlands counties through co-operation with each other and the sharing of best practice
Improve evaluation of activities
Capture data to improve planning of future events
Provide information to support funding applications
Develop a shared approach to personal development through a Training Needs Analysis
Increase the focus on equality and diversity
Develop shared values for the region
The overall outcome was to help develop an action plan for the next five years that will secure the future and growth of Young Farmers’ Clubs in the region.
56 attended the event, including partner agencies that are listed in the conference report attached.
If any other county federations or clubs within the YFC network would like to comment on the report or share any ideas then please contact:
Michelle Harrison (Regional Development Officer for WMAYFC)
01905 621891
The West Midlands Area is holding a meeting on 26 March to start compiling the action plan. Once in place the document will be available on the website. The West Midlands Area will also be holding regular reviews of it's progress and the next review is on 22 September.
Vision Conference Report
