Rabi confirms loss of regional manager roles

Further staff redundancies at the Royal Agricultural Benevolent Institution (Rabi) have been confirmed, triggering upset among some long-time supporters of the farming charity.

In total, eight jobs have gone, of which seven are the organisation’s remaining regional managers – the staff members who co-ordinate the activities of the charity’s many volunteers.

It is understood there were originally 10 of these regional managers, but this was reduced to seven, and these seven have now worked their final day, following a six-week consultation period.

The regional managers are distinct from the 15 Regional Support Managers, or (RSMs) – the professionally qualified staff who do the case work directly supporting farming people.

They are not affected by the redundancies.

See also: Farmers To Action launch ‘Trailer of Truth’ campaign

Alicia Chivers, Rabi chief executive, said: “We recognise that a small number of valued colleagues across Rabi have left as part of these changes.

“We are extremely grateful for the contributions they made to the charity and the farming community.

“While this is never easy, the restructure is about strengthening Rabi’s ability to deliver consistent support where it is needed most,” she said.

“By reshaping how we work, we’re building a stronger and more connected local presence, ensuring volunteers have clearer roles and improved resources.”

Core values

But Tim Sedgewick, a County Durham farmer and director at H&H Land & Estates, condemned the restructuring as a fundamental break from the charity’s core values, raising concerns over the its ability to maintain its connection with rural communities.

“I never thought I would see the day when Rabi – a charity I have supported for over a decade – would willingly sever the very human connection that has been its lifeblood,” said Mr Sedgewick, who chaired the County Durham committee from 2016 to 2021.

He paid tribute to regional manager Sally Conner, calling her “the beating heart of Rabi in our region: a guide, a motivator, and a figurehead who embodied what the charity stood for”.

Changes

A Rabi spokesman said: “Rabi exists to serve farming people, and we are determined to do so in the most effective, sustainable and meaningful way possible.

“That is why we are making changes to our structure, not to simply save money, but to maximise the value of every pound spent and ensure our services and support to farming people across England and Wales delivers consistent positive change where this is needed most,” he said.

“Our Regional Support Managers (RSMs) – who are vital to the support we give as a charity – remain unaffected by these changes.

“They will continue to provide direct service and support to the farming community.”

Past cost cutting

The decision follows significant job losses in July 2021 and the sale of Rabi’s two residential care homes in March of that year.

“At such a time, we need more human contact and local understanding, not less,” Mr Sedgewick said.

“Volunteers, however dedicated, cannot shoulder the weight of leadership, organisation and human connection alone.”

He added: “In making this decision, Rabi has not just lost a few employees, in my humble opinion, it has lost its soul.”