Supporting the agricultural community

Carol McLaren, chief executive of RSABI, introduces the work of the charity marking its 125thanniversary this year

THIS year RSABI, the charity which supports people in Scottish agriculture, is celebrating its 125thanniversary and is extending thanks to the Church of Scotland for helping to raise awareness of its services in rural communities.

The charity is now known simply as RSABI, but it was founded as the Royal Scottish Agricultural Benevolent Institution in 1897 to mark Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee, and in recognition of the deep agricultural depression at the time.

When first set up, its aim was to help elderly, infirm, distressed and disabled Scottish tenant farmers and their dependants. At its first AGM, the funds available were used to support 16

‘pensioners’ to each receive £20 per year.

Over many years, the charity evolved and, through the hard work of a band of collectors throughout Scotland and the generosity of many supporters, was able to help more people who were struggling.

Support from the agricultural community is a huge strength of the charity, and RSABI also has a history of strong links with the Church of Scotland.

The service RSABI delivers for people in Scottish agriculture ranges from financial and emotional support to practical help and is always given with respect, understanding and confidentiality.

I am incredibly proud of the dedicated team of staff and trustees at RSABI, and the excellent work being delivered for the industry.

What has also become very clear is the value of the way the Scottish agricultural community supports RSABI, and this underpins the success of the work being undertaken.

Whether it is taking part in a fundraising challenge, becoming a member of RSABI’s supporters’ schemes or a trustee on the board, the goodwill from those in the industry is greatly appreciated.

During its 125th anniversary RSABI is asking for the farming community’s continued support to raise awareness of the work it does and to encourage people who need support to get in touch without hesitation.

When you contact RSABI you will find the response is always compassionate, understanding, and friendly and, for those in need of help, our team of case officers will find a way to make life feel less overwhelming.

Something which many people are not aware of is the breadth of the range of the support offered by RSABI – from organising assistance with business plans to opening up channels of communication with statutory agencies, utility providers and creditors.

One less well-known service which has seen demand treble since the start of the pandemic is our outgoing call service.

Stress and loneliness are the main reasons for people receiving regular phone calls from our team, who worked brilliantly throughout the festive period – atough time for many – to continue that support.

We are also incredibly grateful to the team of volunteers who help us with these phone calls.

There is no doubt that the pandemic and the resulting enforced isolation has had a substantial impact on many people of all ages in agriculture and this is now compounded by the worry we all share about the situation in Ukraine and the effects of the crisis on fuel and input costs.

This was made more challenging during Lockdown, without the usual opportunities to let off steam by heading out to the local agricultural show or auction market.

Many people, right across the age spectrum, are still lacking in confidence to go out and about, and this applies to younger people in their 20s who find themselves shy and anxious to more senior members of our community who still have health concerns about socialising.

Our welfare team regularly arrange to put steps in place to help people who are feeling ‘overwhelmed’ or ‘lost’ feel more in control of life again. Situations which appear to be mountains in times of despair, can be broken down into manageable chunks so that light is seen at the end of the tunnel.

The team are also very good at signposting where to find specialist support and, importantly, they can respond quickly to move things forward so if RSABI can’t help, they will open up the way to an organisation that can.

Sessions can be set up with trusted counsellors who understand the agricultural industry and, in cases of extreme financial difficulty or practical problems, what is needed can be assessed very quickly with steps taken within 24 hours in some urgent cases.

With energy prices rising, fuel poverty continues to be a very real issue and RSABI has seen a sharp increase in demand for its ‘Help for Heating’ funding which is available for those struggling to keep their homes warm, along with other support services such as insulation.

We know there are people who could benefit from our support, including younger people, who for some reason are hesitating to reach out to us. We are looking at steps to address this and in the coming weeks we have just launched an enhanced helpline service as well as extending the channels we use to engage with people – young and older – to make it even easier to contact us at any time of day or night.

RSABI’s Helpline – 0808 1234 555 – is now open 24 hours a day, seven days a week and is free to call.

“What has also become very clear is the value of the way the Scottish agricultural community supports RSABI, and this underpins the success of the work being undertaken.

The charity is also developing a new website which will make it easy to understand and navigate the range of services on offer as well as featuring a live webchat function.

The hope is, during this anniversary year, to recruit 125 new members of the Supporters’ Scheme which is a vital source of income underpinning the work done by the charity.

Perthshire farmer and former auctioneer David Leggat MBE, Chair of RSABI, said the support of the Church of Scotland has been of significant value to the charity over the years.

“The Church has played a significant role in the history of RSABI throughout its 125 years and our thanks go to all those who continue to support the work of the charity in many different ways,” Mr Leggat said.

“RSABI is here for all parishioners involved in agriculture, and we very much appreciate the help we receive in rural areas to raise awareness of our services.”

The service provided by RSABI is always confidential, always friendly, and always understanding, so if you are worried about a friend, family member of neighbour involved in farming or crofting or related services, please share our number or contact us on 0300 111 4166 or via email helpline@rsabi.org.uk. Don’t hesitate.

More information is available via www.rsabi.org.uk and to stay up to date with the latest news from RSABI, please follow us on LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram.