The Midlands’ Rural Support Network has announced changes in its services.

From April this year, each of the five counties in the West Midlands will be individually responsible for providing the Network’s services and the central regional office, currently based at Harper Adams University College in Shropshire, will close.

The Rural Support Network, set up over 12 years ago, is a small charity which provides free support to individuals and families in crisis in the rural community.

It aims to reduce the problem of isolation and relieve rural stress in the West Midlands as well as raising awareness of the issues.

Users of the service will still be able to benefit from the same confidential help from trained volunteers but they will now have to contact their individual county.

David Collier, NFU West Midlands regional director and vice chairman of the board of trustees said one of his priorities in the coming months would be to ensure that all five shire counties have active groups and stay in touch with each other.

“The board is satisfied that the service can continue in all the rural parts of the region after the end of March,” he asserted. “But we will only succeed if everyone pulls together and we have five active county groups.”

“Farming is going through an extended period of radical change and the need for support, guidance and friendship is likely to grow rather than diminish in the next few years. It is therefore vital that the county teams of volunteers and co-ordinators continue in existence and share their experience and best practice with neighbouring groups.”