Barrie Cooper, a Blandford dairy and beef farmer, shares his work with Dorset FCN, providing vital support and assistance to local farmers in need
co-ordinator for Dorset FCN
May I introduce myself? I’m Barrie Cooper, joint coordinator for Dorset FCN (Farming Community Network) with Rebecca Hill.
I farm near Blandford – dairy (about 175 cows), beef reared from birth to about 24 months and also arable.
I joined FCN about four years ago. Being a farmer myself I know, and have experienced, a lot of what other farmers are going through. I know the stresses of animal passports for every animal, animal health and paperwork, inspections and the bureaucracy that has to be carried out on a daily basis on a modern farm. I felt that an organisation like FCN was where I can best help others.
It is a national organisation with a 24/7 helpline for farmers, their families and those connected to agriculture. If a call imade to the national FCN helpine coems from Dorset it will be forwarded to Rebecca and myself. The Dorset team of volunteers are a mixed group of all ages, every one of us either working in agriculture or retired from a profession that serves the farming community.
The case work that we get can be anything from a call for help with filling in paperwork for cattle passports or government grants, to a tenancy query through to bereavement and so many other matters.
We work closely with Dorset Council, the NFU, the Environment Agency and other bodies who can all help.
Our role is to be there – to listen to a callers concerns and then see if we can either direct them to someone who can help or to work with them ourselves to try and resolve the issues at hand.
FCN is here for you.
The confidential, national helpline is open every day of the year from 7am to 11pm and volunteers provide free, confidential support to anyone who seeks help:
Call 03000 111 999
