Senior farmers invited to join social meetings initiative
14th September 2025
Senior members of the farming community are being invited to join the ‘Plough On’ initiative, which offers a space to share thoughts, memories, and concerns about farming — and life beyond it.
The Plough On group in the Angus area will have its first meeting in Inverarity Church Hall on Monday 6th October.
People of retirement age who have worked in agriculture – farmers, farm workers and others – are being encouraged to take part in the initiative, which has already been tried successfully in the south-west of Scotland.
It also proved to be very successful in Northern Ireland, where events, talks, and trips are arranged for retirement-age farming folk.
Carol McLaren, CEO of RSABI, said: “Our Ploughing On festive lunch, kindly hosted by Strathmore Estates at Glamis Castle in December last year, provided us with a lot of encouragement that the initiative is very much needed for our industry’s much-valued senior members.
“Feedback from the event confirmed many older farming people would love to get out and about more and particularly enjoy time with other like-minded farming folk.
“We are therefore delighted to be offering this opportunity for retirement-age people in Angus to get together and inform us of what they would like arranged by way of events and activities through the year.”
READ MORE: Back British Farming Day: Farmers ranked UK’s second most respected profession
How to take part?
A number of social meetings throughout the year will be planned to provide participants with the chance to take part in farming-related visits and activities as well as the opportunity to meet and enjoy the company of others who share similar interests.
The group will take part in a 12-month pilot, consisting of regular gatherings in the Angus area, and there is no cost to participants for taking part.
Spaces are expected to be booked up quickly, so those who are interested in joining the Angus Plough On group should visit RSABI’s website to complete the short form, and a member of the RSABI team will be in touch.
For more information about the initiative, call 07587822711 or email ploughon@rsabi.org.uk
RSABI offers free practical, financial, and emotional support, including counselling services, delivered quickly after receiving the initial enquiry. A Help for Heating grant is also available to those who meet the eligibility criteria to assist with heating costs.
Its free confidential support service is available 24 hours a day, every day of the year, by calling 0808 1234 555 (calls will not show up on phone bills) or through a confidential webchat service, available onRSABI’s website www.rsabi.org.uk.
READ MORE: More Than Food campaign: Prue Leith encourages people to shop local and support farmers
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