A year of fundraising is launched by Young Farmers's Club Federation to secure its future following £1m Covid losses

The NFYFC is facing a funding crisis. County federations are estimated to have lost nearly £700,000 in income since the onset of the coronavirus pandemic in March and the organisation’s total loss now stand at around £1m.

With lockdown restrictions having forced clubs to stop physical meetings and competitions – a situation that has not happened since the foot and mouth outbreak in 2001 – there are concerns some county federations will be unable to weather the Covid storm and smaller clubs are facing an uncertain future.

NFYFC chairman Dewi Parry said that, while YFCs were able to start meeting again, it would be a “long road” to complete recovery.

“Covid-19 has taken away so much from our lives, and rural young people who live in remote locations have been forced into even greater levels of isolation by the ongoing restrictions,” he said.

“It’s so good for YFCs to be meeting again but it’s going to be a long road to complete recovery where we’re all competing in large groups and enjoying time together again.”

Now for the first time in its 89-year history, the federation has launched a national campaign which will kick off a year-long programme of fundraising.

The Give it Some YFC Welly Relay is being launched on Monday, marking the start of National Young Farmers’ Week which will see a number of other events and celebrations taking place.

Every county is being challenged to take part in the relay which will see YFC members travel the distance between clubs in their county and passing a “virtual welly” on to the next county federation.

Georgina Fort, chairman of the Yorkshire Federation of Young Farmers’ Clubs, said National Young Farmers’ Week was “more important than ever” this year.

“We need to encourage existing members to get renewed and new people to join now, rather than waiting until the pandemic is over,” she said.

“For many young people living and working in rural areas, life can be very isolated and YFC is a vital lifeline.

“They need to know that we are here for them through these difficult times and to support any club in Yorkshire that needs a bit of extra help.”

Georgina said the pandemic had hit the whole team at the Yorkshire federation.

“We had just nicely moved into a new headquarters in the Yorkshire Agricultural Society building in Harrogate and had to furlough our staff.”

But despite being unable to meet, Georgina said some of the Yorkshire clubs, which number around 34, had shown “real initiative” by coming up with online competitions and meetings.

“This national week of fundraising and activities is a great opportunity to sing their praises,” she said.

NFYFC president Nigel Owens, a Welsh international rugby union referee, urged every Young Farmers’ Club to back its county federation and “Give it Some YFC Welly”.

“Young Farmers’ Clubs are incredibly important in rural areas, helping young people make social connections, learn new skills and support their rural communities,” he said.

“We must do all we can to ensure this vital youth service can continue.”

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