Two farming charities join forces to extend support networks
10th May 2023
Two UK farming charities that have been working side by side, the Addington Fund and Forage Aid, have agreed to merge into one organisation to increase efficiency and offer much-needed support to more farmers through the charities’ combined networks.
The Addington Fund is renowned for its work providing housing, disaster relief, and support to young entrants within the farming industry. Through this new collaboration, the charity is hoping to extend its on-farm disaster relief support under the Forage Aid brand.
Forage Aid is known for offering emergency, short-term relief to alleviate or relieve livestock suffering by providing feed and bedding to those in need. The charity’s founder, Andrew Ward MBE, along with its trustee, Tom Hind, have joined Addington as trustees to further strengthen the board.
Peter Jinman, chairman of Addington, commented: “We welcome the opportunity to collaborate, pool resources, combine networks and enhance our offering, which will in turn benefit those in need within our farming communities. With the increasing challenges that farmers and farm workers face, we’re delighted that Addington will be able to offer a wider network of practical support.
“In addition, I am extremely pleased that Andrew Ward and Tom Hind will join our board of Trustees, and we look forward to continuing the important and valued work of Forage Aid.”
The unified organisation will offer a “one-stop-shop” for those in need to access practical assistance with a whole range of provisions and support – such as housing, elderly care, young persons’ support scheme, farm worker grants and disaster relief.
Bill Young from Addington said: “The new organisation will allow administration of the two charities to be combined for efficiency, as well as reducing any competition for funds that might arise within the farming and wider rural sectors.”
Forage Aid’s founder and chair, Andrew Ward MBE, added it makes “perfect sense” for Forage Aid to combine forces with a charity that has complemented its work supplying emergency feed and bedding to farmers.
“Being the first respondents in extreme weather situations has meant that Forage Aid has already worked with Addington, and also The Farming Community Network, to support their other work in times of acute need.
“Since Forage Aid was founded in 2013, we have helped 137 farmers with 423 loads, with a total value of £821,000; this work has made us very adept at finding the forage needed quickly, in the quantity and bale sizes needed, and through our network of friendly haulers, to rapidly get it out to farms.”
Echoing his words, Lord Curry of Kirkharle, former DEFRA minister and former chair of The Prince’s Countryside Fund, said: “This merger makes absolute sense. At a time when farming is going through a period of unparalleled change, and help is absolutely necessary, to consolidate and use our resources as efficiently as possible is welcome news.”
Keith Halstead, director of The Prince’s Countryside Fund, is also in favour of the move, saying the union will benefit the long-term future of both charities.
“The Prince’s Countryside Fund welcomes this merger between the Addington Fund and Forage Aid to offer a more joined-up approach to their support of farming families at a time when farming needs it the most,” he said.
