The care and support of people living in rural areas will be the focus of a Church-led seminar this week.
It will look at what churches can do to improve the pastoral care they offer and how they can work alongside other agencies to help those facing problems such as financial debt, isolation, depression or community collapse.
The seminar is the second in the Church in Wales’ Rural Hub series, a programme of 10 monthly events, run in partnership with the Welsh Assembly Government and the Trustees of the Royal Welsh Agricultural Society.
It will be chaired by Gary Haggaty, head of the farm development division of the Welsh Assembly Government and will include presentations from WAG farm liaison staff, Farming Connect, The Royal Agricultural Benevolent Institution, Farm Crisis Network, National Farmers Union, Farmers Union of Wales, the Institute of Rural Health, MIND Cymru and the Wales Federation of Young Farmers Clubs.
Revd Canon Robin Morrison, Bishops Adviser on Church and Society, said, “The role of churches in rural communities is changing. Often the church is the only public facility left as schools, pubs and Post Offices close. It is important that we are aware of the challenges facing those around us at a time of change and respond effectively to pastoral needs. We will be looking at new ways of working in churches and how that can fit in alongside work done by other agencies in order to ensure people in rural areas have the all round care and support they need.”
The Rural Hub seminar will take place on Friday, December 3, at the Royal Welsh Showground at Llanelwedd.
