How we Help

Regular support for retired beneficiaries

The majority of RABI's beneficiaries are elderly and / or disabled and, unless their circumstances change, we care for them for the rest of their lives. According to individual needs, they receive:

• Quarterly grants, issued in March, June, September and December
• Payment of telephone rental costs and lifeline alarms
• Annual TV licence fees (if under 75)
• Birthday and Christmas hampers or flowers
• Christmas grant
• Winter grant paid on 1st March to help with seasonal expenses
• Financial assistance with the cost of a home help
• Provision to cover Care Home shortfalls, where there is a gap between the amount paid by the local authority and the fees charged
• A visit by a regional welfare officer at least once a year.

Beneficiaries know they can always talk to the welfare staff in Shaw House or their regional welfare officer – a friendly voice when they are lonely or in need. This one-to-one confidential relationship is very important to their peace of mind.

Special Funding

Money is given to provide for essential needs such as household equipment, and adaptations for those who are disabled.

Working Farmers

Emergency relief in the form of grants for essential domestic expenses are awarded to working farming families who are suffering financial hardships and problems that are brought about through a disaster in the family, such as bereavement or ill health, or animal disease.

In addition, RABI can pay for temporary help on the farm when a farmer or a member of his immediate family is taken seriously ill or suffers an accident.

In 2004, RABI paid out over £150,000 for special items that cannot be met out of regular income, including:

Beds

Central heating boilers

Electric scooters

Stairlifts

Home adaptations.

 

Gateway Project

Financial stability is very hard for many farming families to achieve and looking forward to a secure financial future is but a distant dream.

If any of the following applies to you, or someone you know, then read on.  RABI’s new Gateway Project may provide the answer:

• Are you worried about the future but don’t know what else to do?
• Feel that you are not in control?
• Considered diversifying?
• Have you thought about giving up farming completely?

We have recognised that there are low-income farming families who have the potential to improve their destinies if only they were given a helping hand.

RABI’s Gateway Project aims to help working farming families take control of their financial futures.  The scheme, which is supported by Barclays, is being piloted in the central region before going national next year.

What is it?

People who work on the land have a vast range of skills that could be the key to improving their financial stability - if only they could only use them to generate extra income from outside the farm.

But so often it is lack of money that prevents farmers, farm workers or their partners from gaining the formal qualifications or necessary training to take their skills to a wider market.

RABI’s Gateway Project will provide funding for qualifying families to secure the necessary skills development and accreditation to help them increase their potential.

Flexibility is the key

These are just a few examples of how farmers’ skills could be translated into extra income:

Driving farm machinery - HGV licence

Tractor servicing - Motor mechanics

Buildings maintenance - Bricklaying

Dry stone walling/ hedging - Contracting

Fork lift driving - Warehousing

Farm accounts - Book-keeping

From wedding catering to grave digging, the possibilities are endless.   Our aim is to provide funding where it will make a real and sustainable difference to people’s futures.   Come to us with a viable plan and we’ll consider it.  We will need to know that there is scope within your chosen market and that it is not already saturated.  In addition, if funding for training or skills development is already available from another source, we will ask you to apply there first. 

Who qualifies?

Farmers and farm workers with limited personal assets (savings and investments) and low farm incomes can apply for funding.  The applicant’s house and farm are not counted.

How to find out more

For an informal discussion, or to order an application pack, speak to one of our welfare team on 01865 727888 or email them on welfare@rabi.org.uk

The prospects for a brighter future may be on the horizon.  Good luck!

Back to top