CUMBRIAN farmers feeling more isolated since the UK went into lockdown, could benefit from donations made by the NFU Mutual Charitable Trust.

A survey of NFU Mutual customers during Mental Health Awareness Week revealed it was a crucial time for support to be available.

However, the cancellation of fundraising events means that many charities are facing a funding gap, impacting their ability to provide vital services, and this has led to the Trust making donations totalling £739,000 across several national organisations that reach out to the isolated and vulnerable across the UK.

Early in April, the insurer pledged an additional £750,000 to the NFU Mutual Charitable Trust to grant these donations, as part of an overall £32m support package committed for the benefit of its members and communities affected by coronavirus. Additional donations will be distributed by the Charitable Trust to further this support over the coming months and, by the end of the year, it is expected that the overall donations during 2020 will reach £1m.

Some of the charities receiving donations are The Addington Fund, The Farming Community Network, The Royal Agricultural Benevolent Institution, and Forage Aid.