RABI pays record in charitable benefits
RABI pays record in charitable benefits
Tough times in agriculture prompted the Royal Agricultural Benevolent Institution to make a record number of donations last year.
RABI, the charity founded in 1860 to help those in need in the farming community, helped 1647 families last year, with the number of new retired or disabled beneficiaries taken on rising by 37%.
A total of £2.4m was spent on helping those in need in 2000. And nearly £196,000 was paid out to families as a result of calls received on the emergency helpline.
But despite receiving record donations of over £642,000 in each of the last two years, 2000 was the third year running that RABIs spending exceeded its income, with a deficit of £102,000.
"There may be signs of an easing in the agricultural crisis but we expect the knock-on effects to be felt for some time yet," says RABI chief executive Richard Duckett.
"The number of farming families needing our help is likely to continue to increase for the foreseeable future with a growing number of farmers forced into a retirement for which they are not prepared. The need for RABIs services has never been greater."