How Farming Help really helps

When farmers are facing problems, either in their personal or business lives, it is often pride that will stop them asking for help. But in the words of one Farming Help volunteer, “pride won’t get you fed”.

Knowing who to ask is the first challenge, which is why three charities specifically dedicated to the farming community decided to work together, and Farming Help was born.

In reality, it doesn’t matter which of the three charities – RABI, FCN or ARC-Addington Fund – is contacted, because each knows how the other two work. A call to any of them can set wheels in motion, as these case studies show:

Keeping mum, and dad

Peter* from Staffordshire contacted RABI because he was struggling to cope with caring for his elderly parents while running the farm on his own. An RABI welfare officer visited the family and showed him how to access the benefits to which he and his parents were entitled. This helped to pay for carers to come in each day. The charity also paid to have the bathroom adapted for a level access shower, as both Peter’s parents suffered increasing mobility problems. At the same time, RABI contacted the local FCN volunteer, who accessed business advice – long overdue since Peter’s debts were mounting – and provided moral support while he got back on top of his situation. With the pressure off, Peter was able to get back to farming and find some stability. “After the visit from the FCN volunteer, I had my first good night’s sleep for months,” said Peter.

Tenancy

An 83-year old widow, whose tenancy was in her late husband’s name, was given notice to quit by the farm’s landlord after occupying the farm for over 51 years. She was very concerned about where she and her daughter would live, as the only alternative the housing authority could offer was a bed and breakfast in an unsuitable location. The case was referred to the ARC-Addington Fund by an RABI regional welfare officer. The Fund purchased a suitable home and FCN helped with all the paperwork. This support meant that she stayed close to her family and gave her security in the area she has always lived in.

Illness in the family

Mark and Sarah’s* son had been born with congenital heart disease. His condition deteriorated and he was admitted to Great Ormond Street for life-saving surgery when he was a toddler. With two other children at home and livestock to care for, urgent help was needed. RABI stepped in and paid for relief farm staff, the cost of childcare and helped the couple with accommodation and travel expenses for their lengthy stay in London.

FCN had been monitoring another Welsh dairy farmer for over three years before he asked for help. Steven* had been diagnosed with terminal cancer, and while looking at other ways to manage the business for his family for the future, had fallen behind with farm work and paying the bills. ARC-Addington Fund were able to help with a £2,000 grant to assist the business in the short-term, whilst RABI investigated what state benefits the family were entitled to for the long-term and paid a further £2,000 towards outstanding domestic bills. Pride can often stop farmers asking for help – this FCN volunteer is now in close contact with the family for as long as help is required.

Bereavement and debt

Jane* contacted FCN following a family bereavement. With the farm in debt the family were struggling. Jane’s husband, David*, was depressed because he felt unable to support his family and felt like he was trapped in a hopeless situation. It took several meetings with the FCN volunteer before Jane and David felt able to talk openly and admit that they wanted to leave farming, but as tenant farmers they couldn’t afford to buy a house and move on. FCN helped them to make a successful application to the ARC-Addington Fund for housing. The family was then able to leave the farm and move to a house in a nearby village. David is now earning a living from his new fencing business and admits that “contacting FCN gave us the confidence to make the transition to a new and better life”.

Single Farm Payment

The farm paperwork was in a mess and a mistake on the application form meant that George* did not receive the Single Farm Payment – with serious financial implications. The problems with the paperwork and the mistakes on the application form stemmed from the fact that George’s wife had been ill with cancer for some time. FCN contacted the Rural Payments Agency on George’s behalf and within a couple of weeks the problems were resolved and George had received his payment in full. RABI was able to help the family with some extra support for George’s wife and with getting the benefits they were entitled to. George’s wife is now on the road to recovery and life is gradually returning to normal.

Fighting the floods

The house was flooded, the fields were flooded, and Jon* was forced to bring his cattle inside. His supply of animal feed crops had been destroyed and buying replacement feed for the winter was going to be hugely expensive. The FCN volunteer visited and helped the farmer to fill in an application to ARC-Addington for a grant to help with the cost of feeding the animals. The FCN volunteer was on hand to help with the clearup operation and, although the true cost of flooding to the farm and to the family is only just emerging, Farming Help made a huge difference at a very bleak time.

* All names have been changed.