Ag charities to focus support on finances and succession
© Adobe Stock Farming charities have sought the views of UK farmers and found financial assistance and succession planning to be the two key areas where farmers would like more support.
The Addington Fund and Farming Community Network (FCN) received 460 responses to an industry-wide survey carried out earlier this year, outlining where support would be most beneficial to farmers in the current climate.
It found that support around finances and access to grants were the most in demand, followed by guidance for future succession planning, and general business advice.
See also: Farming Help charities seek views of UK farmers
These findings fit in line with wider industry concerns around cashflow and the impact of changes to inheritance tax relief from April 2026.
The Addington Fund and FCN have worked in partnership to produce a list of industry resources to help farmers find support in these areas.
Alex Phillimore, head of communications and development at FCN, said: “We hope that this information will provide some useful resources and prompt some follow-on conversations.
“We encourage people to reach out and ask for help in exploring their options as we navigate this period of significant change.”
Support services
The Farming Help partnership has signposted farmers looking for financial assistance and grants to Defra’s rural grants and payments webpage.
Welsh farmers can find out what support is available to them through the Farming Connect eligibility checker.
The Addington Fund can also provide financial support to farmers affected by extreme weather events, accident or illness, or animal disease outbreaks, through its emergency fund.
Farming charities Rabi and Rsabi also offer financial support and grants to farm businesses.
Succession planning
The Farming Help partnership recommends that FCN volunteers can act as a neutral mediator for tough discussions about succession on farm if required.
It also advocated for the work being carried out by wider industry organisations such as NFU Mutual, whose financial experts can help farm businesses develop their own handover plan.