Who are we?
We are a local charity that is part of a national network of support groups dedicated to combating stress and hardship in rural areas.
We are a network of contacts and volunteers who live and work in rural Bedfordshire and Cambridgeshire and have first-hand experience of the difficulties faced by those in farming and rural communities.
We are supported by The Big Lottery Fund.
What do we do?
We provide advice, practical help and personal support to people who live in the countryside and are confronted by problems which may be changing their lives.
We work with you to identify solutions to the problems and signpost agencies that can help.
Most importantly, we stay alongside supporting you until things are sorted out and you are ready to face the future.
What sort of problems?
- Business, employment and redundancy
- Personal debt
- Housing concerns and homelessness
- Benefits entitlement
- Ill health, isolation and loneliness
- Family issues
- Bereavement
Or
You just need someone to talk to...
How much does it cost?
The service is free, confidential and non-judgmental.
How do I qualify?
You only have to live in rural Bedfordshire or Cambridgeshire.
If you live anywhere else we can probably still put you in touch with someone who can help.
Someone I care about is in trouble – can you help them?
Yes, but unless you persuade them to talk to us, we can only give you information to pass on to them.
Contact us?
Call the Rural Support Line Tel: 08454 500 290
Or write to:
-
Wood Farm, Kimbolton Road, Hail Weston, St Neots, Cambs PE19 5LA;
-
Fax: 01480 471 340;
or talk to a local representative direct:
Agricultural chaplains:
- BEDS. Revd Monica Robinson Tel: 01234 824 366
- CAMBS. Revd John Alford Tel: 01480 812 075
Training groups:
- BEDS: Anne-Marie Hamilton Tel: 01480 212 772
- PETERBOROUGH/FENLAND: Stella Parker Tel: 01733 210 346
- WISBECH: Jo Bruce Tel: 01366 500 050
- ELY: Susan Martin Tel: 01353 860 220
- CAMBRIDGE: Alison Rickett Tel: 01223 893 897
- SOUTH CAMBS: Gill Hicks Tel: 01638 742 580
Transport and General Workers Union:
- Ian BeebyTel: 01223 833 860
National Farmers Union:
- BEDFORD: Les Geary Tel: 01234 352 381
- LEIGHTON BUZZARD: Richard Beechener Tel: 01525 372 634
- HUNTINGDON: John Griffiths Tel: 01487 773 757
- RAMSEY/WHITTLESEY: James Skelton Tel: 01733 203 274
- PETERBOROUGH: Stuart Bish Tel: 01733 361 066
- MARCH/CHATTERIS: Peter Eddy Tel: 01354 652 339
- WISBECH: Steve Hutchinson Tel: 01945 585 135
- ELY: James Godfrey Tel: 01353 662 454
- DRY DRAYTON: Jeremy Risebrow Tel: 01954 210 007
- BURY ST EDMUNDS: James Littlewood Tel: 01284 701 144
- SAFFRON WALDEN: Chris Raynor Tel: 01799 522 248
Useful websites
-
Arthur Rank Centre (including ARC/Addington Housing Fund)
-
Citizens Advice (eg for debts): Advice Guide
-
Directions Plus (for disability information)
- Royal Agricultural Benevolent Institution
-
Rural Payments Agency (RPA) [includes for Single Payments Scheme (SPS)]
-
Samaritans: 08457 90 90 90
Last updated: 21 September 2006