Charity pays £1,000 a day to ‘desperate’ flood-hit farmers

Farming families hit by floods this winter are receiving emergency funding worth almost £1,000/day from the Royal Agricultural Benevolent Institution (Rabi), it has emerged.

The 155-year-old farming welfare charity said it had paid out £31,000 since 7 December 2015 after a series of storms hit the north of England.

Rabi said it expected the figure to rise considerably in the coming months as people took stock of damage to their livelihoods.

Applications have been received from farming people affected by flooding or storm damage in counties that include Lancashire, Yorkshire and Northumberland as well as Cumbria.

Rabi said claims were being fast-tracked using a simplified claims process and an emergency fund set up by the charity to specifically help people during a crisis.

Rabi chief executive Paul Burrows said flooding had exacerbated other problems such as falling commodity prices and the wait for BPS payments.

See also: Flood-stricken farmers offered more financial help

“At the moment, many people are still working every hour of the day to care for their livestock and families, rather than deal with the financial impact of the situation.

“These are certainly very challenging times for the farming industry, but we will continue to do what we have always done, which is support those in the farming world on low incomes with limited means.”

Georgina Lamb, who is also Rabi’s representative on the Cumbria Action Flood Group, said there was much to do to get flood-affected farmers back on their feet.

The plight of many farmers in the region remained “desperate”, especially those who have suffered from repeated flooding, said Ms Lamb.

“Before Christmas, we held four surgeries at auction marts in Cumbria to engage face-to-face with those affected by Storm Desmond. We were approached by more than 60 people.”

Rabi said it was working closely with other organisations, including the Rural Payments Agency, the NFU, the Farming Community Network and the Prince’s Countryside Fund.

Banks had also proved co-operative, said the charity, referring people in need of urgent assistance directly to Rabi representatives.

Rabi can give emergency grants to help farmers, farmworkers and their families, with support provided on an ongoing, case-by-case basis.

To apply for financial help from Rabi, call the freephone confidential helpline on 0808 281 9490 or email grants@rabi.org.uk.

For information on how to make a donation, visit the Rabi website.