Charity News

Since losing his wife to ovarian cancer, Emyr Wigley has raised over £121,000 for Ovarian Cancer Action and the Royal Agricultural Benevolent Trust. Now, following a recent injury, he will sell his herd of 33 cattle on 4th March.

As part of the 6th annual Mind Your Head campaign, intended to raise awareness of deteriorating mental health in the agriculture sector, Farmers Guide spoke with two mental health charities about how pressures like avian flu and price increases have affected farmer well-being.

Tom Hitchcock from Ipswich, Suffolk, is taking on the National Three Peaks Challenge climbing the three highest peaks of Scotland, England and Wales over the course of three days to raise money for the Motor Neuron Disease Association in memory of his late father.

Just under 200 tractors took part in the annual Boxing Day charity event in Larling, Norfolk, raising thousands of pounds for the rural mental health organisation YANA (You Are Not Alone).

The ‘Dorset Lookouts’ is a new initiative that aims to provide a point of contact for farmers experiencing difficulties in the area, making sure they receive the help and support they need to cope with mental health struggles.

The Royal Agricultural Benevolent Institution (RABI), the farming charity for England and Wales, has launched its Christmas Appeal to support farming people over the festive period, when many are having to severely cut back on their spending.

Farming charity RABI is reminding poultry farmers of the support services available following the introduction of Defra’s Avian Influenza Prevention Zone (AIPZ) across England.

Teams from UK Dairy Day and the Holstein UK Group, along with any volunteers, will cycle 867 miles on spin bikes, to raise money for Sue Cope’s chosen charity, Brain Tumour Research.

The bike ride is being held in memory of a former Volac employee and aims to raise £15,000.

RABI’s support for the farming community has received national recognition in the prestigious Charity Times and Third Sector Awards for 2022. Included in the four awards categories for which the charity is shortlisted, is the highly sought-after ‘Charity of the Year 2022’ award.

As farming families face spiralling costs, in the run up to the new school year, RABI has launched a ‘return to school’ grant to help cover the cost of school uniforms, P.E. kit and other equipment.

The NFU has led a 130-mile egg and spoon relay, raising more than £6,000 for the rural mental health charity YANA (You Are Not Alone).