Charity auction planned for flood-hit Somerset farmers

An online charity auction is being set up to raise funds for flood-hit farmers on the Somerset Levels.

The Royal Bath and West of England Society (RBW) will host the eBay auction in association with a big London-based branding agency.

Jane Guise, the society’s chief executive, said: “We will be launching a massive eBay auction, which will include two tickets for Glastonbury Festival with helicopter flights and Winnebago.”

More details of the auction and exciting top prizes will be announced soon.

The RBW’s Somerset Farmers’ Fund, which was launched to help flood-hit farmers get their businesses back on track, has so far raised £55,000. But Ms Guise expects this figure to rise to £100,000 after proceeds for the charity auction are included.

The funds will be distributed to farmers in the medium to long term to help businesses still recovering from the floods later this year.

See also: Flood-hit farmers – how you can help

“The great thing about the fund is it was a fund set up by Somerset farmers, which will help Somerset farmers,” added Ms Guise.

She said she hoped people would flock to the Royal Bath & West Show from 28-31 May in support of Somerset farmers.

Meanwhile, RBW’s Somerset Farmers’ Fund, has been boosted by news it will receive financial support from the Somerset Emergency Flood Relief Appeal.

Justin Sargent, chief executive of the Somerset Community Foundation, said: “We will be working with the Royal Bath and West of England Society to agree match-funding for its recovery fund for flood-hit farmers.”

The Somerset Community Foundation has raised more than £830,000 in cash donations, but with more money in the pipeline, this figure will surpass the £1m, Mr Sargent said.

The Welsh farming community has also been raising funds for flood-hit Somerset farmers.

A recent fundraising event, hosted jointly by NFU Cymru Glamorgan members and Glamorgan young farmers’ clubs in Barry, raised £20,000.

The Royal Welsh Agricultural Society has announced it donated £2,000 to rural communities affected by the floods in Somerset. The money has been sent to the farming charity RABI to distribute to farming families who need help.


Somerset Emergency Flood Relief Appeal – £830,000

  • Royal Bath and West of England (RBW) Somerset Levels Relief Fund – £83,000
  • RBW Somerset Farmers’ Fund – £55,000
  • The Farming Community Network – TBC
  • The Addington Fund – TBC
  • The Prince’s Countryside Fund – TBC
  • RABI – £35,000


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