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Aug 10, 2023

New 'Health Hut' to encourage north

The pioneering Health Hut pilot project, which is being run by Scottish agricultural charity RSABI and ANM Group, is set to get underway this month. It will launch August 18. Get the latest news from

The pioneering Health Hut pilot project, which is being run by Scottish agricultural charity RSABI and ANM Group, is set to get underway this month. It will launch August 18.

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A new ‘Health Hut’ is to open at the Thainstone Centre near Inverurie, offering farmers, and others the chance to have their blood pressures checked.

The pioneering Health Hut pilot project, which is being run by Scottish agricultural charity RSABI and ANM Group, is set to get underway this month.

The Hut will launch at the Aberdeen and Northern Marts’ Thainstone Centre on August 18 at the Spectacular Show and Sale.

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Nurse Irene Scott will join RSABI staff at the Health Hut, which will spring up at the main entrance to the centre. Farmers will also be able to confidentially discuss any other health concerns they may have.

Irene, who is a practice nurse and lives on a farm in Fife, has been working with RSABI at recent events to trial the best approaches to delivering this support to people in agriculture.

One of the challenges faced by farmers and others working in agriculture is living in remote locations, along with long working hours. This means that many don’t prioritise their own health and often act too slowly to book appointments with health professionals.

Research by SRUC and Stirling University published in June this year found that “farmers are likely to focus primarily on looking after the livestock and upkeep of the business side of the farm. Looking after themselves and their own health comes second.”

The research also highlighted the benefits of taking health and wellbeing support to places where farmers are to be found and the ANM/RSABI pilot project builds on an existing initiative being successfully delivered in two marts in Lancashire.

“Farm businesses can be very complex and, with long working hours and uncertain weather conditions, too often farmers and others working in agriculture can neglect their health and put off arranging medical checks,” said Carol McLaren, Chief Executive of RSABI.

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“We hope the Health Hut pilot will be successful and can grow to be rolled out across the country, bringing health and wellbeing expertise to markets and other hubs in the farming community so busy farmers can access services like blood pressure, cholesterol and other checks. We are delighted to be working with the ANM Group to take this forward.”

Grant Rogerson, Chief Executive of ANM Group, said: “We are very pleased to be working with RSABI on this ground-breaking project for Scotland.

“Projects like this offer great support to individual farmers and with the Thainstone Centre being at the heart of the farming community in the North East and across Scotland, it is an ideal location for the Health Hut. We would encourage all members, customers and visitors to make the most of the Health Hut in the coming weeks and months.”

The new Health Hut is one of a range of initiatives RSABI is undertaking to encourage people working in agriculture to take steps to look after their physical and mental health, including Mental Health First Aid training across the country, a Thrive app being trailed with three young farmers clubs and the #KeepTalking campaign to encourage people to look out for each other.

RSABI provides emotional, practical and financial support to people of all ages in Scottish agriculture.

You can find out more here.