28-04-2025
- Business
- Powys County Times
Shipping container to help Aberedw YFC tackle rural crime
A Young Farmers' Club in Powys has become the recipient of a rather innovative competition prize aimed at tackling rural crime – a shipping container.
Aberedw YFC, made up of members aged 10 to 28, entered a Christmas competition run by Aberystwyth company Lion Containers to win a brand new shipping container, and emerged as the winners out of thousands of entries from 155 clubs in Wales.
The container was delivered earlier this month, with members gathered to welcome the box.
Rural crime, and the cost to farmers affected, continues to rise at a worrying rate.
A rural crime report published by NFU Mutual in 2024 estimated that the cost of rural crime increased by 4.3 per cent year-on-year in 2023, to £52.8 million.
Evidence shows that organised criminal gangs continue to target farmyards and fields, looking to cash in on continuing high inflation and ready resale markets domestically and overseas.
Howard Adair, of Lion Containers said: 'We have noticed a steep increase in the demand for secure farm storage, as a result of the unfortunate rise in rural crime.
'As a Welsh company based only up the road in Aberystwyth, we know first-hand how vital the next generation of farmers are to this country's agriculture.
'That is why we wanted to support Wales YFC by offering a winning club the opportunity to access super secure storage for free.
'We were astounded by the number of entries to our competition – never did we predict we'd receive thousands of applications. Congratulations to the winning club, Aberedw.'
During the delivery of the shipping container, Wales YFC chair Dewi Davies said: 'Wales YFC are very grateful to Lion Containers for the opportunity to offer this prize to one of our clubs.
'We're very grateful for their support and a very big congratulations to Aberedw for winning this shipping container.'
