According to the latest HSE figures, All Terrain Vehicles (ATV's) were the biggest single cause of work-related fatal injury in agriculture, forestry and fishing in 2024/25 with seven fatalities including two children.
The Farm Safety Foundation (Yellow Wellies), in partnership with Lantra, is taking decisive action with the launch of a powerful new initiative, a nationwide bursary offering 100 farmers across the UK the chance to receive fully funded, industry-accredited training in the safe use of all-terrain vehicles (ATVs).
This initiative is designed to upskill agricultural workers and hopefully reduce the number of serious incidents involving ATVs on our farms.
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The Bursary will fund 100 Lantra-accredited ATV training courses, ensuring those 100 recipients gain the essential skills and knowledge to operate all-terrain vehicles safely and responsibly.
It will be open to anyone currently working in agriculture or studying at a land-based college or university in the UK.
Stephanie Berkeley, manager of the Farm Safety Foundation, said: "We know that ATVs are essential tools on many farms, but they can also be incredibly dangerous when used without proper training.
"By launching this bursary, we are removing one of the key barriers, cost, and giving anyone working on farms the opportunity to learn how to use these machines safely and confidently.
"We are doing this in memory of those who have tragically lost their lives in ATV incidents, for the safety of today's farmers and for the generations who will follow in their footsteps."
As an added incentive, every participant who completes the course will also receive a high-quality Logic helmet reinforcing the vital messages that the charity have been sharing through their partnership with RSABI for the #UseYourHead campaign over the past year.
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Clegg Bamber, head of communications at Lantra said: "ATVs are really versatile vehicles and serve many purposes on farms across the UK.
"At Lantra, we hear, sadly, all too often of people suffering serious injuries, and sometimes fatalities, due to riding on an ATV.
"Lantra are proud to partner with the Farm Safety Foundation on this newly announced bursary scheme as developing people's knowledge and skills will ensure that people remain safe when using ATVs across farms, reducing serious injuries and fatalities from occurring."
Applications for the ATV Bursary open today and are available by visiting https://survey.zohopublic.eu/zs/lACaOz.
