Rabi offers training grants to help farmers develop off-farm skills
© Tim Scrivener Farmers looking to boost their household income by doing additional work away from their own farm during quiet periods may be eligible for financial support to help them develop new skills.
The Royal Agricultural Benevolent Institution (Rabi) offers training grants to individuals currently working in agriculture in England and Wales, which could enable them to stay working in the industry by earning off-farm income.
Typical courses include assisting individuals to gain HGV licences and complete forklift truck operator courses.
See also: Rabi extends family aid as costs of living crisis bites
However, the charity has also assisted people to train in areas such as tree surgery, hedge-laying, butchery, livestock foot-trimming and pregnancy scanning, as well as more diverse skills including website design and IT programming.
Rabi will support individuals currently engaged in agriculture where the main household income is derived from farming.
It may also fund spouses, partners or adult children if it enables them to continue to work on the farm, alongside earning off-farm income.
Training grants are not currently available for individuals seeking to enter into farming, higher education or for the training of children seeking to utilise skills to work fully off-farm.
Farmers wanting to see if they qualify for support should contact Rabi’s confidential freephone helpline 0800 188 4444 or email  help@rabi.org.uk