Foods, one of the UK’s leading fresh meat processors, is to work with local charity Rural Support, over the next 12 months to continue to raise awareness of the charity’s work among the rural and farming communities across Northern Ireland.Rural Support offers a listening and signposting service via a helpline for farmers and rural families across Northern Ireland. Callers to the helpline are of all ages and backgrounds who may be struggling to deal with issues such as emotional distress, physical and mental health, and bureaucracy and more.
Speaking about the company’s new partnership, Mael Wilford, Environmental Manager, Linden Foods, commented:
“The launch of our sustainability programme, GreenTrack earlier this year formalised our commitment to responsible and sustainable business practices.
"The rural community and local farmers are a vital link in our supply chain at Linden Foods and through our close working relationship we are aware of the many challenges they face. From today, we will be working with Rural Support to help raise the profile of this valuable organisation and to help raise funds so they can continue to deliver their important work.”
Rural Support's Development Director, Jude McCann commented:
"Rural Support is delighted to have the support of Linden Foods. Forging a partnership with an industry leader such as Linden Foods will strengthen our capacity to promote positive mental wellbeing and ensure that farmers and rural dwellers are aware of and can access the services that we offer.”
Linden Foods’ partnership with Rural Support will cover three main areas:
• Driving awareness of Rural Support among key audience by profiling the charity on company’s website, social networking
• Raising funds through a variety of staff events - £1,000 was recently raised at the company’s Christmas dinner
• Volunteering support
As Linden Foods’ work with Rural Support gets underway, the company recently donated £1,000 to the charity at a recent staff Christmas dinner along with a couple of hampers.
Linden Foods employs over 900 people and is one of the UK’s leading processors of beef, lamb chicken and rosé veal products. Customers include retailers and companies within the catering trade throughout the UK and Ireland, such as, Marks & Spencer and Lidl and Morrisons.
