. R A B I newsSPRING 2015 THE MAGAZINE OF THE ROYAL AGRICULTURAL BENEVOLENT INSTITUTION Great British Beef Week Page 3 Farmhouse breakfast round-up Pages 6-7 SUPPORTING FARMING FAMILIES WWW.RABI.ORG.UK From the chairman After an incredibly mild winter for most of us, The time has come for another issue of R.A.B.I. News and this gives me the opportunity to reflect upon just how lucky R.A.B.I. is as a charitable organisation. Lucky to have such a wonderful bedrock of support In this edition throughout England and Wales, lucky to have the most incredible team of staff, whether working as regional managers, regional welfare officers, in one of our wonderful homes or at HQ in Shaw House and lucky to be able to help such a wide range of people to whom an affinity with the land is second nature. Our supporters, whether individual or corporate, are all extremely dedicated to the cause and are typical Farmhouse Breakfasts of those who hold the purpose of R.A.B.I. so closely in their hearts. Pages 6 - 7 2014 was another extremely successful year with a wonderful level of voluntary income allowing the charity to again help very large numbers of people - both those who’ve come to the end of their working lives and those who are struggling to keep farming against what often appear to be the greatest of odds. I think it is a time when we should all be encouraged to shout loud about just how special Regional news the R.A.B.I. is and to encourage those who have yet to come forward to see what we can do to perhaps Pages 8 - 12 make their lives that little bit easier, their worries less and to hopefully provide a slightly brighter future for them and their families. Talking of those we help, a recent new beneficiary learnt about R.A.B.I. from a Christmas card received from a friend - you just never know how the word will be spread! YFCs & Colleges Once again Farmhouse Breakfasts have proved a great success and please don’t forget about the Pages 12 - 19 forthcoming Great British Beef Week (23 April to 3 May). Whether hosting a family roast or throwing Royal Agricultural Benevolent Institution a few burgers on the barbecue, there are so many We are a welfare charity which helps farming people in opportunities of making use of this wonderful chance financial difficulty. Every year we support around 2,000 to promote the great meat produced in this country individuals and families and give more than £2 million and also raise funds and awareness for R.A.B.I.. in grants. We also offer practical help and always work However you support us please be assured that we in confidence, with compassion and discretion. are eternally grateful but, more than that, the Registered office: Shaw House, 27 West Way, Oxford OX2 0QH thanks of those who in turn we are Freephone helpline: 0300 303 7373 able to help are constant reminders General enquiries: 01865 724931 of just how important the role that Fax: 01865 202025 we fulfil is. Thank you for all that Email: [email protected] you do. Website: www.rabi.org.uk Twitter: www.twitter.com/rabicharity Finally, our thoughts and prayers Facebook: www.facebook.com/rabicharity1 at this sad time are with the Registered charity number 208858 family and friends of our late Patron Her Majesty The Queen R.A.B.I. colleague Emma Gibson President His Royal Highness The Duke of Gloucester who is greatly missed by us all. R.A.B.I. News is published quarterly by R.A.B.I. and edited by Philippa Spackman, telephone 01865 811581, email [email protected] Cover picture: Pork sausage and bacon butties for staff from Oxford solicitors Blake Lapthorn Morgan, who supported the sell-out Shaw House Farmhouse Breakfast – see pages 6 and 7 for more events. Chris Riddle congratulates Robin Slade, owner of the winning lamb in R.A.B.I.’s sheep class at the East of England Smithfield Festival. Thanks to great generosity, £1,200 was raised from ten donated lambs. Nati nal news R.A.B.I. has a bright new look this spring! Cyclists beef-up for GBBW In line with the look of R.A.B.I. News, our A team of five cyclists are beefing-up and accelerating), while raising funds range of promotional material is in preparation for a gruelling 300 mile for R.A.B.I.. eye-catching, fresh and colourful. You will cycle ride to mark to start of Great The ride begins in Bakewell on 21 April, see it on our stands, on our leaflets and our British Beef Week. and the team will visit eight auction campaign fundraising packs such as the one now available for Great British Beef The Derbyshire committee members marts throughout the East Midlands over Week. To get your own Great British Beef aim to celebrate and draw attention to three days. The ride also starts a series of Week event off to a good start, contact the UK beef industry, which has lost over R.A.B.I. fundraising events in celebration our Fundraising and Communications team 100,000 beef breeding cows over the of British beef, with Great British Beef on 01865 724931 for a campaign pack. Or last three years (a decline of nearly 7%, Week officially starting on 23 April. check with your local regional manager for Great British Beef Week events in your area. Decade of cheer R.A.B.I.’s 2013 hamper campaign raised a phenomenal total of close to £23,000, almost matching the highest sum ever raised from the campaign since it was launched ten years ago. “The donors who contribute so generously to this campaign know that people worse off than themselves will be at the receiving end of a gift that is not just practical but makes them feel wanted at a time which, for some, can be very lonely”, said Paul Burrows, chief executive. The hampers are distributed to people we help on a long-term basis and are always very much appreciated. “My Christmas will be a very happy one, thanks to all the brilliant R.A.B.I. donors The end is in sight for Manson and fundraisers”, wrote one lady in just one of the many letters and calls the welfare department receives from grateful House transformation recipients. Thank you to everyone who supported the campaign. It is an exciting time at Manson House, recently completed building having R.A.B.I.’s residential care home in Bury St been named after benefactor the Edmunds, Suffolk, where works to trans- late Margaret Stearn, whose generous British 10k form the facilities are in the final stages. legacy has helped to fund the project. Completion of the ambitious £5.5m Some residents, meanwhile, are now London run 2015 building project is due by the summer, in purpose-built new bedrooms in the With a route taking runners past many famous city sights, the British 10k London three years after it began in 2012. extended ‘link’ section of the original run is always an exciting event. R.A.B.I. house. Tenants are already enjoying the two has places available for the 2015 run on newly built blocks of flats, the most Now work is concentrating on the the morning of Sunday 12th July. If you are complicated refurbishment of the interested in taking part to raise funds for Grade II* listed home itself which was the charity, please email suzy.deeley@ rabi.org.uk for further information. first acquired by R.A.B.I. in the early 70s. When it is finished, the house will be far better equipped to meet the needs of elderly residents, helping Manson staff to deliver their warm and welcoming high levels of care well into the future. Next issue R.A.B.I. News will take a closer look at Manson House and what has been achieved there thanks to support Regular R.A.B.I. from county committee fundraising, runners, Cumbrian charitable foundations and individual duo Mandy donors as well as significant investment Robinson and by the charity itself. Sally Reeder. HELPLINE 0300 303 7373 3 What R.A.B.I. Multi-talented and means to me much missed! When Colin Cooper, head of finance, joined R.A.B.I. after leaving the Army, the Rt Hon William Waldegrave, MP for Bristol West, was Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, the Milk Marketing Board had recently been dissolved and the first episode ofThe Vicar of Dibley appeared on our TV screens. “ I have worked for R.A.B.I. £9m went out in as many for more than 20 years and months. have been at the forefront Meanwhile, coming in, of many changes. we had a tidal wave of • The amendments to sympathetic donations, the charity’s rules, which and it was volunteers (our extended help to farm auditors, trustees and workers and their families as complete strangers among well as farmers themselves them) who helped us to and meant we can truly cope. The two main faces claim to be here for ALL of R.A.B.I. were and still are those in the farming Welfare (helping those in community. need) and Fundraising & Communications (helping • The reorganisation in 1998 that saw Trustees supporters to help R.A.B.I.) A lady with many talents, during reduced from over 20 to a but behind both of these is her 25 years at Manson House, more practical 12.