Ashmole & Co and DPJ Foundation

Ashmole & Co have launched a year of fundraising in aid of the DPJ Foundation, to help support those in the agricultural sector, and living rurally, with poor mental health.

The DPJ Foundation was set up in Pembrokeshire in 2016 following the death of Daniel Picton-Jones. Daniel’s suicide rocked the community, his wife Emma realised very quickly the lack of support that was available for those suffering with poor mental health in rural communities. It was announced at Daniel’s funeral that a fund would be set up that would provide support to those, like Daniel, who were suffering from poor mental health. It became clear that there was a lack of awareness around mental health, everyone had been touched by suicide but very little was being done to combat the issue.

Daniel was an agricultural contractor and was well-liked and known throughout the community. His strong ties with the agricultural sector coupled with Emma being a farmer’s daughter made this an obvious route for targeting support. It also became clear that agriculture carried the highest rate of suicide, yet little was being done to help this. Emma has used Daniel as a basis for everything the Foundation has gone forward to do. Daniel was a quiet character with lots of love and care for those around him, he would hate the idea of anyone suffering or feeling the way he did. In his name the DPJ Foundation is using Daniel’s story to help others.