Jeremy Clarkson inundated with praise as he launches new project to help British farmers
Jeremy Clarkson issued an update on Hawkstone's new venture
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Jeremy Clarkson and his beer brand Hawkstone announced today that they would be partnering up with the UK's leading text support service, Shout, to provide 24/7 help for farmers who are facing mental health challenges.
As Clarkson well knows, farming in Britain demands resilience, long hours and never-ending issues when it comes to ensuring the safety and well-being of the animals.
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The 64-year-old previously suffered his own trials and tribulations when it came to farming, having endless issues with his cattle, sheep and the death of his pig's brood.
During the third series of his Amazon Prime show Clarkson's Farm, the team faced a major setback following the sheer number of losses they encountered after introducing the pigs to the farm - leaving Lisa Hogan "so upset".
Reflecting on what had happened, Clarkson told The Times: "I reckoned the pigs would provide something that’s sadly lacking in farming today: a bit of genuine happiness.
"Instead, it was almost unbelievably sad. I’ve never seen Lisa so upset. The film crew looked shell-shocked. We had a catastrophically high level of deaths and I was desperately worried we were doing something wrong, but it turned out we weren’t.
"It was just that pigs are bad mothers — the Sandy and Black particularly so. That’s why it’s a rare breed."
Viewers saw what Clarkson and the farm went through during the huge loss, which sparked a large amount of support for the farmer.
Shout's statistics revealed that 95 percent of farmers under 40 identify poor mental health as a significant issue, with Hawkstone committing to breaking down the stigma and ensuring farmers know they're not alone.
The average farmer earns £28,000 a year - in a good year - and when the harvest fails, the weather turns sour or markets fluctuate, the financial strain increases. This relentless pressure, coupled with the isolation inherent in farming, can take a toll on mental well-being.
Jeremy Clarkson faced a devastating loss during the third season of his series Clarkson's Farm
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Hawkstone posted about the initiative on its official Instagram account and penned: "We know that farming can be a struggle, especially during harvest. At Hawkstone, we’re proud to back British farmers, and that means looking after their wellbeing too.
"So, we’ve teamed up with @giveusashoutinsta, a 24/7 text support service, to give farmers someone to talk to, no matter what they’re going through. If you’re a farmer who’s finding it a bit tough, text HAWKSTONE to 85258 for free, confidential support with stress or worry. Knowing when to ask for support is better than suffering in silence."
In the video, Clarkson said: "Farming can be a bit of a struggle so if you are finding it a bit tough at the moment, text Hawkstone to 85258 and you will get free confidential support from a very experienced team of people at an organisation called Shout.
"It has got to be worth it, rather than suffering in silence."
Farm manager Kaleb Cooper also said: “Farming is an incredibly hard job and there are statistics out there to show that mental health challenges in farming have risen in recent years.
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During the first series, the farm faced severe issues with the loss of cattle
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"Some people don’t like talking about their problems face-to-face or find it difficult to open up to someone they know, so we have teamed up with Shout to allow farmers to send a simple text and get the support they need."
Fans of Clarkson and the show were quick to comment under the post, with one fan praising: "I’ve been a fan of Jeremy since 2003 when I first saw Top Gear.
"I love how Jeremy has gone from someone who once poked fun at farmers to being one of its greatest champions. Proof we do learn and we do grow."
"Well done, Jeremy. This is fantastic," another added before a third said: "Thank you for doing this. Sure there will be some Farmer's lives saved for making it so simple to contact help with the need it."
"Thank you Jeremy yet again for all you do for our UK farmers," someone else added before a fifth quipped: "Brilliant idea,, farmers are so busy at the moment, I can hear them working well into the night from my house, doing good job guys."
Another pleased fan noted: "I'm not a farmer, but seeing what you went through with the piglet deaths, this is a great support for other farmers. Diddly Squat Farm obviously have farming tough times too. Don't forget to take care of yourselves too." (sic)
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