Full Throttle for Farm Safety: 100 ATV Bursaries Up for Grabs
Date: 24th July 2025
According to the latest HSE figures, All Terrain Vehicles were the biggest single cause of work-related fatal injury in agriculture, forestry and fishing in 2024/25 with seven fatalities including two children.
Transforming Farm Safety with ATV Training
In response, the charity behind this week’s Farm Safety Week - the Farm Safety Foundation (Yellow Wellies) - 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). Delivered in partnership with Lantra, this initiative is designed to upskill agricultural workers and hopefully reduce the number of serious incidents involving ATVs on our farms.
The bursary, aimed at supporting farmers of ALL ages, will fund 100 Lantra-accredited ATV training courses, ensuring those 100 lucky recipients gain the essential skills and knowledge to operate all-terrain vehicles safely and responsibly.
A Safer Future for ATV Users on Farms
Stephanie Berkeley, Manager of the Farm Safety Foundation, explains:
“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’re 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’re 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.”
Empowering Farmers: The Importance of ATV Training
As part of this initiative, the Farm Safety Foundation will fund 100 fully accredited Lantra ATV training courses for individuals working in agriculture. Successful applicants will be matched with the nearest available Lantra training provider to ensure accessibility and convenience.
According to Clegg Bamber MBE, Head of Communications, Lantra:
“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.”
Gear Up for Safety with a Free Helmet from ATV Course
The bursary will be open to anyone currently working in agriculture or studying at a land-based college or university in the UK. New riders will gain the knowledge of how to safely use an ATV including pre-ride inspections, checking the ATV is in good working condition, as well as health and safety checks before riding the vehicle. More experienced operators can also benefit as the training also covers practical skills, such as basic manoeuvres, and how to use ATVs across differing and sometimes challenging terrain.
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.
The initiative was launched as part of this week’s Farm Safety Week and complements the charity’s broader mission to reduce the number of life-changing and life-ending injuries on farms through education, innovation, and behavioural change. It also builds on the success of previous campaigns and new innovations such as the VR eye protection experience launched at LAMMA 2025.
Stephanie adds “With our fully funded training we‘re offering a real opportunity for all farmers to enhance their knowledge, improve on-farm safety and meet growing expectations around professional standards in agriculture.
This bursary will give those working in the industry the chance to gain vital skills that could one day save their own life or someone else’s.
The bursary has been made possible thanks to the generosity of those who fundraise and donate to us. It’s a powerful reminder that when you give to us, we give back.
Every contribution helps fund life-saving education, practical training, and initiatives like this that are changing the culture of safety on UK farms.
By investing in training, we’re investing in people and we hope this inspires farmers of all ages to take a moment, think twice and choose to work smarter and safer every single day.”