RABI links with FCN to extend confidential farming helpline service

The Royal Agricultural Benevolent Institution (RABI) is linking up with Farm Crisis Network to extend the operating hours of its helpline. From 1 December, callers using the confidential 01865 727888 will be able to talk to someone during the evening and at weekends as well as during office hours.

Currently callers facing a welfare crisis can only speak to a member of the RABI welfare team during office hours, with an answerphone service available at other times. From the beginning of December, calls made outside office hours will be connected to FCN's confidential helpline, which is available from 7am until 11pm every day of the year.

Announcing the collaboration, RABI chief executive Paul Burrows said: "We are very aware that crises are not restricted to office hours and that the most pressing need for callers on our helpline is to be able to talk to someone, not have to leave an answerphone message. It is also important that confidentiality is maintained at all times.

"I am delighted that FCN, with their experienced and understanding team of volunteer helpline operators, has agreed to handle our emergency calls outside office hours. All messages and necessary information will then be passed to the RABI welfare team for their action at the earliest possible opportunity."

FCN's chief executive, Charles Smith, welcomed the initiative: "As members of the Farming Help group, FCN and RABI have worked closely together for the past 12 years and this is a natural extension to the joint support already available for those in distress in the farming community. Combining the FCN volunteers' practical experience and knowledge of the industry with RABI's financial support and understanding of benefit schemes provides a lifeline to those in need."

The RABI helpline, which was set up in 1998 during the BSE crisis, enables callers to speak confidentially to a member of the welfare department. At the height of the 2001 foot and mouth epidemic, when three lines were being manned round the clock, RABI staff were handling up to 300 calls a day for several months.