IN A year when farmers in Pembrokeshire struggle to cope with the exceptional challenges of an industry in crisis, volunteers are urgently being sought to lend a confidential listening ear.

Tir Dewi, an organisation that supports farmers in Pembrokeshire, Ceredigion and Carmarthenshire, is searching for volunteers who understand the challenges specific to farming. And Tir Dewi is also seeking to appoint a co-ordinator to take on its day to day management.

The search comes at a time when referrals to Tir Dewi climb to “significant’’ levels, according to its chairman, Pembrokeshire farmer and Royal Welsh Agricultural Society chairman, John Davies. Referrals are coming from a number of sources, notably financial institutions, the Church, the Welsh Government advisory service and the farming unions.

“We don’t provide professional advice, nor indeed direct financial support, but we are in a position to listen and to assist in the recovery from the position farmers find themselves in,’’ says Mr Davies, of Cwmbettws, Eglwyswrw.

“Whether those are financial, operational or welfare issues or associated with health or mental health, our volunteers will be trained to listen and to evaluate, to be a point of friendship, direction and support.’’

Volunteers would need the time and skill to interact with people from the farming sector, he adds.

“It is hugely important that our volunteers have empathy with the challenges related with farming and running a business, and to possess the capacity to listen, to reflect and to be able to refer to specialist advice support groups and individuals.’’

The co-ordinator, a paid position, would be the first point of contact for calls and would be the lead on referrals.

Tir Dewi is the brainchild of the Bishop of St David’s, the Very Reverend Wyn Evans, and is funded for three years by the Diocese of St David’s and the Prince’s Countryside Fund.

For further information on becoming a volunteer or the co-ordinator, please telephone John Davies on 07977 239352 or visit @tir_dewi or the Tir Dewi Facebook page.