Isolation and disconnection: addressing accessibility and wellbeing in further education and skills communities

By Oliver Symons, Chief Executive, Moulton College

This blog covers issues surrounding mental health.

In today's hyper-connected world, where technology keeps us in touch with friends, family, and colleagues at the tap of a screen, it is ironic that feelings of isolation and disconnection are more prevalent than ever.

Despite the digital bridges we have built, mental health issues are on the rise, leaving us to wonder: why, in an age of unparalleled connectivity, do some people feel so alone? This paradox of modern life is a pressing issue as we explore the hidden costs of our digital age and seek ways to foster genuine human connection in an increasingly virtual world.

With increasing ‘hybrid’ ways of working, the challenges of isolation and disconnection within college communities demands urgent attention. The shift to remote and hybrid working, compounded by the geographical dispersion of students, staff, and leaders, has for some amplified feelings of detachment. For rural and farming communities, these challenges are particularly acute, with unique barriers to accessibility and stark mental health concerns. It is essential for educational institutions to acknowledge these complexities, foster inclusive strategies, and proactively support wellbeing across their communities.

Accessibility in a hybrid world

I was not going to mention the pandemic in this piece but its influence on new ways of working in the further education sector cannot be ignored and although the transition to hybrid working has brought new opportunities for flexibility, it also highlights critical disparities in accessibility. For students and staff in rural areas, unreliable broadband infrastructure, limited public transport, and a lack of local resources can hinder participation.

In education, this digital divide often leaves rural learners at a disadvantage, unable to fully engage with online platforms or access support services. For leaders managing hybrid teams, the challenge is ensuring equitable engagement for staff spread across vast and often underserved regions. Addressing these barriers involves investing in infrastructure, providing technology grants, and offering alternative methods of engagement, such as offline resources and local hubs.

The cost of disconnection.

For many rural and farming communities, isolation is not merely a byproduct of geography but a lived reality. The agricultural sector faces well-documented mental health challenges, with 92% of farmers under the age of 40 suggesting poor mental health is the biggest hidden problem facing farmers today (an increase from 82% in 2018). Long hours, financial pressures, environmental impacts and unpredictable weather compound feelings of loneliness. It does not help when you do not feel supported by the policy makers who seem to forget that food production is one industry we cannot be without.

Education providers that serve these communities must recognise the weight of this burden. Students from farming backgrounds may carry these stresses into the classroom, while rural staff and leaders may struggle with professional and personal disconnection. It is vital to foster a culture of belonging by creating safe spaces for conversation, providing access to mental health resources, and ensuring that no one feels left behind.

Leadership and responsibility in education

For FE and skills leaders, the responsibility to address isolation and disconnection is both moral and strategic. A disconnected learning community risks lower engagement, diminished wellbeing, and weaker outcomes for students and staff. FE and skills providers can play a pivotal role by embedding wellbeing into their curriculum and fostering environments where students from farming backgrounds feel supported.

Leaders must prioritise inclusivity by:

1. Creating transparent communication channels: Regular check-ins, open forums and workshops to reduce stigma and raise awareness can help bridge the gap between dispersed teams and students.

1. Investing in wellbeing: Providing access to counsellors trained in rural and agricultural challenges, peer support groups, and mental health first aid training ensures that students and staff can seek help and provide help when needed.

1. Building partnerships: Collaborating with local organisations and agricultural charities such as The Farm Safety Foundation (Yellow Wellies) who provide workshops for students in land-based colleges, Action with Communities in Rural England (ACRE) and The Young Farmers who have various initiatives to address mental health issues and support networks for farming communities.

FE and skills providers, and specifically those in rural areas or who serve a largely rural community, are uniquely positioned to combat isolation and disconnection through fostering a sense of belonging. By creating opportunities for collaboration, peer connection, and leadership development, they empower students and staff to thrive despite these external pressures. For example, promoting extracurricular activities that connect rural students with their more ‘urban’ peers can help bridge cultural gaps. Similarly, equipping staff with training on empathy and a trauma informed approach ensures they can provide meaningful support.

The responsibility lies not only with leaders but with every member of the learning community to build an environment where no one feels forgotten and where every individual can thrive. If, however, we are committed to equity of opportunity and ensuring that education truly reaches everyone, we should ask why it is that a further education student from a rural area has to pay for their own travel to study, whereas a student who lives in London and some other larger cities get it for free.

This blog is part of the ETF Mental Health and Wellbeing project, delivered by the AoC commissioned by the Education and Training Foundation on behalf of the Department for Education. For more information on this project, please visit: ETF mental health and wellbeing project | Association of Colleges.

Further support

Farm Safety Foundation / Yellow Wellies - YellowWellies.org

Action with Communities in Rural England - ACRE

National Federation of Young Farmers' Clubs