To talk to a sympathetic person who understands farming and rural life:
CALL 03000 111 999
Calls will be answered in person from 7am to 11pm every day of the year
I need help with:
- Retirement
- Succession
- Relationship break-up
- Home and Property
- Pension
- Making a Will
How FCN can help you and your family:
Retirement
It is often difficult to admit to advancing years and to consider retirement. After a lifetime of farming, what else is there? Can I afford to retire? It isn’t just a question of stopping work; with farming there is always so much bound up in the farm.
Succession
When considering retirement, the first question is often ’who will take over the farm?’ If it is to remain with the family, that can highlight a whole series of questions along the lines of who gets what. If it is to be sold off then there can be questions of accommodation – does the house go with the farm, if so, where are we going to live? Can the farm support the next generation?
Relationship break-up
If a personal relationship is coming to an end, there are just as many problems and difficulties and it is an extremely emotional time for all parties. It is a time when it is difficult to separate personal feelings from the practical decisions regarding the farm business.
Home and Property
This is one of the most difficult areas to resolve; as the family grows, there are more complex problems about home and business properties. It is extremely difficult to reach a decision that is fair to everyone and, at the same time, does not become the root of family grievances.
Pension
Financial planning for the future is important for you and your family and arranging to pay into a pension can help bring some peace of mind as the years tick on.
Making a Will
When all has been agreed and settled, it is important to ensure there are no squabbles and disputes at some future point. Many people are reluctant to make a Will but it is something that cannot be put off.
Remember:
These are just some of the issues that will surface as time moves on. Because of the close relationships between family members and partners they are some of the most difficult to resolve satisfactorily. FCN volunteers can offer support to everyone who is involved while remaining impartial and objective.
Are any of these issues worrying you or someone you know in farming? Maybe there are other problems not mentioned here which you need to talk to someone about?
Please call our Helpline 03000 111 999 – we may be able to help.