2017 marks my ten year anniversary with RABI and over those years, I have met countless amazing characters within the agricultural industry who have either supported our work, or been helped by RABI - sometimes both.
I am proud to say that I work for an organisation that is clearly making a real difference to farming people who are in genuine need. When our supporters kindly make donations, I can say hand on heart their gifts go directly towards supporting people who are struggling. Otherwise, I would find it very difficult to encourage fundraising.
2016 saw the amount of money spent in the North West increase by 28.5% from £179,452 to £230,000. Almost 50% of this money went towards helping working farmers – largely but not exclusively as a result of grants issued following the effects of Storm Desmond. That said, all counties in the North West saw an increase in expenditure. Farming families supported in 2016 totalled 127 and each beneficiary will have been assessed by our welfare team to make sure they are receiving all benefits to which they are entitled, or to help them access any other assistance available. RABI’s help ranges from funding of mobility aids, care home top up fees and grants for utility bills, to food vouchers and emergency grants due to a crisis on the farm during illness or following an accident.
For example, in December, over a quarter of new enquiries received at RABI were related to illness or injury. In 2016, over £1.6m has been given in grants across England and Wales to help all individuals who find themselves in unfortunate circumstances. Many of the people we have assisted never expected to need our help and we are immensely grateful when some kindly give back to RABI to show their support and appreciation:
“I never expected to need your help but when citizens advice said they had contacted you I was surprised, but now am very pleased they did. I thank you for making my life more comfortable in the future.”
Huge thanks must go to all the members of county committees across the North West who work so hard organising events, attending shows and promoting the work of the charity. Raising awareness about the work we do is equally as important as raising funds, as we constantly need to alert or remind farming people that we are here to help wherever we can. In 2016 the North West counties raised approximately £70,000 in voluntary income - so a massive thank you to all those individuals, companies and other organisations who made this possible.
RABI North West has a number of events scheduled to take place in 2017
05 February 2017 - Plough Sunday Service at Reaseheath Agricultural College, Cheshire
10 February 2017- Farmhouse Breakfast from 8am until 10am at Cartmell Shepherds, Rosehill, Carlisle
26 February 2017 - Crime fighter turned crime writer Sunday lunch at Vale Royal Abbey, Cheshire
04 March 2017 – Whitechapel Dinner Dance, Lancashire
* If you would like more information about the work of RABI, please contact Georgina Lamb on 07917 114250 email Z2VvcmdpbmEubGFtYkByYWJpLm9yZy51aw== or visit www.rabi.org.uk for further information about these events or any others planned throughout the year.
The RABI freephone helpline is 0808 281 9490