.. R A B I newsWINTER 2015 THE MAGAZINE OF THE ROYAL AGRICULTURAL BENEVOLENT INSTITUTION Supporting farming families www.rabi.org.uk Seb’s a designer at age of five! Page 11 Industry leaders at farming summit Page 3 From the chairman Whichever way you look at it, it’s been an extremely tough year for farmers.From the chairman The plight of dairy and sheep farmers has been national news and even the most resilient have been forced to take stock and re-evaluate what they do and how they do it, largely because of low prices, food scares and concerns over reduced support payments. The flooding in Cumbria and other parts of northern England in early December also left many people in need of immediate assistance. A month's rain fell in 24 hours causing terrible scenes. R.A.B.I will fast-track the application process Providing for farming flood victims so we can get money to where it is needed much quicker. some festive Our charity relies on the goodwill of thousands of fundraisers throughout England and Wales, many of whom are directly cheer connected to farming themselves. Often, people are driven to raise funds for us because they know someone who we have helped in the past or because they realise that one See page 6 day, through no fault of their own, they might need our help too. That is the nature of our industry, where circumstances and sheer bad luck can quickly spiral against you – be it disease, bad weather, illness or accidents. No one should ever feel ashamed for asking for help when they need it most. Paul Burrows, R.A.B.I’s CEO, represented the organisation at a summit meeting arranged by the Prince’s Countryside Adventures Fund. Many important figures from the farming world attended, including Defra minister George Eustice and His of Madge! Royal Highness Prince Charles himself. The support of the PCF is welcome and it is certainly important that farming’s leading organisations tackle key issues together in order to See page 14 maintain a view of the big picture. R.A.B.I, as an organisation, is very different to the one launched by John Mechi back in 1860. We only started helping working farmers in 1998 but last year we gave out around £300k in grants to this sector. From August to October 2015, R.A.B.I received 130 new Royal Agricultural Benevolent Institution referrals and 76 of these were from working farmers. That We are a welfare charity that helps farming means more than 58% of our new referrals over this three- people in financial difficulty. Every year we support month period was from working farmers. approximately 2,000 individuals and families and Nothing R.A.B.I achieves would be possible without our truly give out around £2 million in grants. We also offer wonderful supporters, who give up so much of their time to bake cakes and hold coffee mornings for our cause. Events practical help and always work in confidence, with big and small all make a difference and we are indebted compassion and discretion. to everyone who contributed to our Welly Week campaign Registered office: Shaw House, 27 West Way, Oxford OX2 or through harvest festivals, as featured in this quarter’s 0QH magazine. Registered charity number: 208858 I am regularly humbled by many of the stories I hear from both those rely on our support and those who give it. Helpline: 0808 281 9490 Thank you for everything you do on our behalf. General enquiries: 01865 724931 Fax: 01865 202025 Email: [email protected] Patron: Her Majesty The Queen President: His Royal Highness The Duke of Gloucester R.A.B.I News is published quarterly by R.A.B.I and edited by Rob Harris. Telephone 01865 811600 or email [email protected] Chris Riddle, Cover image: Seb Gell, who designed one of R.A.B.I’s 2015 Chairman Christmas cards, pictured with grandmother Sally Conner. See page 11. R.A.B.I FOLLOW US: Website: www.rabi.org.uk Twitter: www.twitter.com/rabicharity Facebook: www.facebook.com/ rabicharity1 2 Nati nal news HRH e Prince of Wales holds a ‘crisis summit’ into farming’s future R.A.B.I CEO Paul Burrows domestic demand. are braced for a difficult six research commissioned attended a farm crisis The PCF gives grants of up months. Our welfare officers by the fund into the summit at Chatsworth to £50k to projects that help and regional managers see consequences of failing to House in Derbyshire support the people who what’s happening close-up support a diverse farming organised by the Prince’s care for the countryside. and things are just starting sector. The legacy of Countryside Fund (PCF). To date, the fund has to bite in the regions. today’s summit will be to HRH The Prince of Wales donated £6 million in grants However, R.A.B.I will help foster greater collaboration attended in person, along supporting more than 135 farmers to get through the and communication with Defra minister George projects and helping more winter.” between key players in Eustice and other important than 160,000 people since Director of The Prince’s the agriculture sector. figures from the banking 2010. Countryside Fund, Claire “By fostering a greater industry and landowner R.A.B.I CEO Paul Burrows Saunders, said: “The role of understanding of the associations. said: “We are not here The Prince’s Countryside challenges facing farming The summit was chaired by to scaremonger; we’ve Fund, now more than we will go some way to Lord Curry of Kirkharle, who been there for the farming ever, is to help ensure helping to solve them. gave an overview of the community since 1860 and the sustainability of British “Through the work of the ‘perfect storm’ which looks we are here for them now. agriculture and our wider Farming Help Partnership, set to hit farming. Long-term, we are positive rural communities. This is the projects we support The dairy, beef, sheep, about the sector but with why our Patron HRH The and our emergency fund arable and pig sectors nights drawing in and the Prince of Wales will be there is valuable and much are already under severe grass no longer growing we announcing essential needed help for farm pressure, largely businesses. With due to falling prices. the steadfast Lord Curry said support of the the depression in wider sector, we prices across the can collectively main agricultural commit to helping sectors has been secure a brighter ‘unprecedented future for British in recent years’. farming.” Volatility in milk prices alone had UNITED FRONT: held the news HRH The Prince agenda for months of Wales, flanked and British lamb and by Lord Curry beef prices had of Kirkharle and been hit by weak the Duchess of export trade and Devonshire. Brian was instrumental in North Yorkshire launch R.A.B.I sends its in order to showcase local said: “We invited Brian to condolences to the family produce. become our first president of the Reverend Canon Brian came from old as we knew he was Brian Abell, who died Yorkshire farming stock. He taking things more slowly. recently. Brian (pictured), trained at Cuddeson and "However, we still wanted from Harrogate, was ministered in the Diocese him to be a part of us. He instrumental in setting up of Ripon and Leeds. He was was chuffed to bits that we the North Yorkshire R.A.B.I the first tourism officer for asked him, so at least he committee and was its first the Diocese, chaplain to the knew how much esteem chairman. He received Harrogate Police Force and he was held in. He will the Dennis Brown Shield at the retired clergy officer for be sorely missed and our the 2007 AGM awards in the Archdeaconry. Before thoughts are with his wife recognition of his charity his retirement, Brian was Noreen and the family.” work, particularly for vicar of Masham Church. R.A.B.I is delighted that creating and inspiring the R.A.B.I regional manager Brian's widow Noreen has ‘Cooking Canons’ with Sally Conner worked agreed to become North Rev Canon Leslie Morley closely with Brian and Yorkshire president. For enquiries about welfare call the Helpline: 0808 281 9490 3 A big thank you to our business supporters ‘NEMi’s ethical standpoint on milk production mirrors our beliefs’ MILK supplier NEMi synergy between has been actively R.A.B.I and our promoting R.A.B.I company’s goals, GOOD on its website in that we are both FOR YOU, and through working towards a GOOD other media and brighter and more FOR OUR business outlets. positive future for COWS: NEMi (naturally our invaluable NEMi is enriched milk) farming families.” Europe’s is Europe’s first NEMi is a fast first selenium enriched growing business, selenium milk, which aims but still remains a enriched to boost your family-run outfit, milk. immune system. based in Audlem, Dairy nutritionist Cheshire. Andrew Henderson They currently launched NEMi supply milk to Celebrating the tastes of Gloucestershire after consulting local schools, care with nutritionists homes, shops, At this year’s Taste of and I can only assume this is and scientists on cafés and bakeries Gloucestershire Food & Farming down to the ongoing work of our the health benefits in Cheshire, Awards, local food producers, voluntary county committee, who of milk and dairy Shropshire and retailers and businesses came are constantly in the news for products.