. R A B I newsWINTER 2014 THE MAGAZINE OF THE ROYAL AGRICULTURAL BENEVOLENT INSTITUTION Charity and the welfare state Page 4 Harvest festival thanks Page 11 SUPPORTING FARMING FAMILIES WWW.RABI.ORG.UK From the chairman After an incredibly mild autumn for most of us, winter did eventually arrive and thoughts turned to all those events that our wonderful county groups In this edition do so well, raising funds, awareness and hopefully spirits! The social, community aspect of such gatherings make them such fun for all involved but also highlights the fact that many of those we aim to assist often suffer from isolation and a feeling of living outside the sort of lives that many of us take National news for granted. The idyllic rural life is not always as wonderful as it Pages 3 - 7 might appear, and our hard-working welfare team constantly see how the realities of often remote surroundings impact, especially when funds are in short supply. During a recent visit to Australia, I heard how similar issues for far-flung communities there were also causing great concern. Thankfully a better understanding - and openness - about mental Feature - The gift of life health and other resultant issues bodes well for the future, although sadly, the equivalent of R.A.B.I. Pages 8 - 9 does not exist ‘down under’ and we should think ourselves lucky that previous generations had the foresight to create this incredible organisation. Closer to home, Welly Week has again proved a great success and provided much scope for novel fundraising opportunities. The Christmas season will no doubt also stimulate much innovative Regional news event planning, although as the time of family festivities and fun approaches, please spare a Pages 12 - 19 thought for those whose circumstances allow for little celebration. The purchase of some of our Christmas cards will help them as well as spread the Royal Agricultural Benevolent Institution word of our existence to an ever wider audience. We are a welfare charity which helps farming people in Please also turn to page 5 for last-minute ideas for financial difficulty. Every year we support around 2,000 gifts which will also benefit R.A.B.I.. individuals and families and give more than £2 million in grants. We also offer practical help and always work in confidence, On behalf of all the R.A.B.I. team, and of course with compassion and discretion. those we aim to help, sincere thanks for your wonderful support. We could not do it without you! Registered office: Shaw House, 27 West Way, Oxford OX2 0QH Freephone helpline: 0300 303 7373 General enquiries: 01865 724931 Fax: 01865 202025 Email: [email protected] Website: www.rabi.org.uk Twitter: www.twitter.com/rabicharity Facebook: www.facebook.com/rabicharity1 Registered charity number 208858 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 Philippa Spackman, telephone 01865 811581, email [email protected] Cover picture: Harvest Festival at Oxford’s Christ Church Cathedral 2 Nati nal news Christmas hampers show that people care Every year R.A.B.I. gives the people we support long-term a Christmas hamper and we know from the thank you letters we receive how much they are appreciated. The hampers cost around £44,000 a year to provide and we run a dedicated campaign to fund them. On behalf of the hundreds of people who receive them, thank you to everyone who has donated to this year’s appeal, many of whom do so year after year. One retired farmer who wishes to remain anonymous said: “I’m fortunate to have my family around me, but Christmas can be a lonely time, and if you have financial worries, it’s even worse. Buying a hamper is a simple way to show that other people care.” The hampers contain store cupboard essentials with a few treats. According to people’s wishes, they are either sent directly from the Leeds-based company which produces them, Festival Foods, or delivered in person by an R.A.B.I. volunteer. Many volunteer members of the delivery team have been delivering hampers for years. We think the record holders Mary Passmore has been organising the delivery of R.A.B.I.’s are Mary Passmore from West Sussex, followed closely Christmas hampers in West Sussex for more than 40 years. by Anthony Jepps from Wiltshire, who have both been She is pictured above with regional manager Sally Field who delivering hampers for more than 40 years. However, Arthur presented her with a bouquet to mark her long service Gee in Cambridgeshire, David Netherclift in Kent, Sally Longstanding R.A.B.I. supporter David Netherclift has had his Mitchell in Norfolk, Jill Themans in Shropshire, and June Toplis dedication to the charity, including his work in delivering Christmas and Irene Pickering in Yorkshire have also been spreading hampers, recognised by the Edenbridge Oxted Redhill & Christmas cheer for more than 25 years. Sevenoaks NFU, which presented him with the Peter Deeley award in October. Mrs Passmore, who is 94, is now helped by her daughter Jenny. “Helping with R.A.B.I. is just part of life and the David, who lives in Surrey, became an NFU secretary in Kent in hampers are part of Christmas,” she said. “People are so 1967. He inherited the position of secretary of the county’s R.A.B.I. grateful to receive a hamper and terribly pleased to see us. committee and continued in the role after he retired from the NFU It’s the least we can do.” in 1992. Now treasurer, his 47 years’ service makes him R.A.B.I.’s longest serving committee member. Mr Jepps started delivering hampers in 1974 when he moved to the NFU’s Swindon agency. “It’s only one day a year, but if There is still time to donate to the 2014 Christmas hamper ever I couldn’t do it I’d really miss it. I enjoy seeing people and campaign! Please call the fundraising team on 01865 724931 having a chat. Over the years you build up a relationship.” or download a form from the website www.rabi.org.uk Tom Byles It is with great sadness that we report the death of Tom Byles, former trustee and former chairman of the Cornwall committee, who had also delivered Christmas hampers to beneficiaries for more than 20 years. Tom was for many people the face of R.A.B.I. in Cornwall. Ill health eventually forced him to step down from the committee, but he never stopped fundraising for the charity. Chief executive Paul Burrows said: “Tom was a kind, remarkable and much-loved man, a farmer through and Tom is pictured with his wife Yvonne being presented with a Dick Twinney (centre) print to mark his retirement by chief through, who will be deeply missed by everyone who knew executive Paul Burrows (left) and chairman Chris Riddle (right) him. Our thoughts remain with Yvonne and his family.” HELPLINE 0300 303 7373 3 Charities and the welfare state Grocers and journalists have them, “In R.A.B.I.’s case we help low-income architects, solicitors and musicians, as farmers and farm-workers, together well as farmers, but what is the role of a with their families. benevolent organisation in the modern welfare state? “We help some people long-term, with a package of support which includes There are more than 200 occupational a quarterly grant, and others short-term charities in the UK today. Many, like when need arises. For example, we R.A.B.I. was founded in 1860 by John R.A.B.I., date back to Victorian times may pay for temporary farm labour for Joseph Mechi. and are as busy now as when they someone who has an accident, or buy Mechi made a fortune manufacturing were founded. a motorised scooter or wheelchair for scientific instruments and razors and someone who is disabled. “Benevolence is an old-fashioned word then established a model farm at but there’s nothing dated about what “We can also help with hospital travel Tiptree in Essex to demonstrate how new machinery, methods and ideas we do - times change, but needs don’t,” costs, pay for household adaptations could help feed a growing population. explained chief executive Paul Burrows. for disabled and elderly people, and help with outstanding domestic bills. Concerned about the plight of other “People can get into financial difficulty farmers, many of whom faced poverty, through no fault of their own, for “Sometimes we provide for people’s he founded R.A.B.I. after gathering example as a result of unexpected most basic needs by supplying food support for his initiative by writing to events such as accident or illness, vouchers for families in extreme ‘The Times’. bereavement or family breakdown, or difficulty. At other times we help simply because they cannot manage people help themselves by paying Our language today is different, but on a low income or state pension. for training so that they can turn the our work remains true to Mechi’s knowledge they probably already vision that we should “help those “Occupational charities help people who are helpless, comfort those who have into certified skills which can be who are currently employed in their are comfortless, support the aged, used to find additional work off farm. sector or have worked in it in the past. shelter the homeless, and befriend the Our work complements rather than “The support we give varies according innocent and unprotected orphans”.