KGM Hereford has handed over £4,000 to We Are Farming Minds after a month-long fundraising drive that culminated in a charity classic car show at the dealership on Kings Acre Road.
Local business backing rural mental health services
The funds were raised through a campaign during May in which the dealership pledged to donate £100 for every vehicle sold, and a one-day classic car show held on Saturday 11 July that brought together customers, residents and automotive enthusiasts. The donation bolsters a Herefordshire-based charity which provides 24/7 support for people working in agriculture and rural settings.
We Are Farming Minds, set up by local farmers Sam and Emily Stables, aims to tackle the high levels of poor mental health recorded in the agricultural sector by offering professional counselling, a round-the-clock support line and free mental health workshops designed for rural communities.
“We are super proud to be a platinum sponsor and to support We Are Farming Minds, a charity dedicated to supporting the mental health and wellbeing of the farming community,”
said Sam Davies, Director at KGM Hereford, reflecting on the partnership and the atmosphere at the event, which featured television personality Fuzz Townshend as a special guest.
Practical help where access can be limited
Rural communities typically face barriers to accessing mental health support, including long travel times, limited local services and a reluctance among some people to seek help. The charity’s combination of immediate helplines and professional counselling is tailored to those constraints, while free workshops aim to break down stigma and equip local people with tools to look after one another.
- 24/7 support lines for urgent help
- Professional counselling available to those in farming and rural communities
- Free workshops to reduce stigma and improve mental health awareness locally
Community event draws local interest
The classic car show provided a focal point for the fundraising month and attracted a mixture of dealership customers, motoring enthusiasts and local residents. The event is an example of how a local business has used its premises and customer base to support a cause of particular relevance to Herefordshire’s large agricultural community.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Amount raised | £4,000 |
| Donation pledge | £100 per vehicle sold (May) |
| Event | Charity classic car show, Kings Acre Road – 11 July |
For Hereford and the surrounding county, the donation is a practical gain for an organisation embedded in the local farming community. While funds alone do not solve the wider structural challenges affecting rural mental health, they enable charities like We Are Farming Minds to maintain helplines, provide professional intervention and widen preventative work in areas where services are otherwise scarce.
Local businesses sponsoring or partnering with charities can amplify those efforts beyond the immediate financial gift. The relationship between the dealership and We Are Farming Minds illustrates how commercial activity and community needs can be aligned: customers who buy vehicles in May effectively contributed to a local cause, and a community event amplified awareness.
As Herefordshire continues to grapple with the distinct pressures felt by its agricultural workforce, contributions from businesses and the visible support provided by public events serve both practical and social purposes – funding services and encouraging conversations that make it easier for people to ask for help when they need it.
Those wishing to learn more about We Are Farming Minds or how local organisations can support its work are encouraged to contact the charity directly. The boost from KGM Hereford will be used to sustain the services the charity advertises: helplines, counselling and community workshops aimed at breaking down the stigma of poor mental health in farming communities.
