Shearing and clipping equipment manufacturer Lister has teamed up with its parent company Wahl to create a pop-up barbershop at the Royal Highland Show to help raise awareness around mental health in agriculture.
They are working with Scottish agricultural charity, RSABI, on the initiative which will see Lister create a quiet space at the show for attendees to relax, have a trim, a chat and put their feet up.
The pop-up barber shop will be open from Friday June 23 to Sunday June 25, near the Shearing Pavilion at The Royal Highland Show. Providing visitors with the opportunity to get a fresh hair cut by a professional barber, the campaign will be raising money for RSABI and The DPJ Foundation, charities working to support mental health in the agricultural industry.
Perthshire farmer and comedian Jim Smith, the face of RSABI’s #KeepTalking campaign, got behind the initiative this week, with local barber, Campbell Ewen, giving him a pre-Highland Show tidy up on the farm, using a spectacular pair of Wahl golden clippers!
Attracting over 190,000 visitors each year, this year’s Royal Highland Show will be hosting the Golden Shears Sheep Shearing & Woolhandling World Championships with shearers and enthusiasts travelling from all around the world to support the competition.
Creating this safe space at the event will be crucial for those want to take a moment to relax and just chat in a safe space.
Martin Booth, Head of Sales and Commercial at Lister, said, “Partnering with Wahl and offering a service such as barbering that can sometimes be difficult to arrange when travelling and working long hours is an important step in our mission to supporting mental health within agriculture. It is vital to raise awareness on this issue the industry is facing and ensure individuals who work in the rural community get access to the support and resources available.”
Carol McLaren, Chief Executive of RSABI, said the charity is delighted to be working with the team at Lister and very much looking forward to being part of the activity at the Royal Highland Show. RSABI has a 24 hour freephone Helpline – 0808 1234 555 – and demand for its counselling services have trebled in the past year.
“There are some really encouraging signs that people throughout the industry are much more willing to talk about mental health and it is so important to keep that momentum up. This initiative is a great example of Lister and Wahl helping to encourage everyone to keep talking – sharing the load is so important,” she said.
Lloyd Rees, shearer and Lister ambassador, added: “Many people working in farming and agriculture often feel isolated and distanced from the wider communities. This can have a big impact on their mental health, and without the proper resources and support to hand, can often spiral into something bigger”.
Kate Miles, Charity Manager of the DPJ Foundation, said, “We are really pleased and grateful that Lister have taken the lead with the Take a Load Off initiative to provide an opportunity to promote good mental health in agriculture, the power of taking time and talking. The eyes of the shearing world will be on the Golden Shears so it’s a brilliant chance to raise awareness.
Caption: RSABI #KeepTalking ambassador Jim Smith is pictured receiving a pre Royal Highland Show tidy up with some golden Wahl clippers by the Kilted Barber, Campbell Ewen.