Fundraising can be a piece of cake according to the Royal Agricultural Benevolent Institution (R.A.B.I), which launches its Cream Tea Campaign this week.
The Cream Tea Campaign is one of the charity’s annual fundraisers which aim to raise awareness of poverty within the farming community and raise money for farmers, farmworkers and their dependents if they are experiencing financial difficulty.
Up to a quarter of farming families live on or below the poverty line according to a government report produced by the Commission for Rural Communities in 2010.
The charity is asking people to get involved by organising or hosting their own cream tea party – a low-cost event that could make a difference to people’s lives.
Suzy Deeley, Development Manager at R.A.B.I said: “What better way to promote British farming and agriculture than the very British idea of a cream tea, after all, three aspects of agriculture come together: arable - the flour for the scones, dairy – for the cream, fruit – for the jam. The campaign celebrates agriculture, but also has a serious side - every day we handle calls from farming people in difficulty, and it is those people we need to help the most.”
Every year, R.A.B.I gives out around £2m in grants to help around 1,500 farmers, farmworkers and their dependants, of all ages. Help might include funding a relief worker to help a farmer recovering from an accident, or provide specialist equipment to someone who is ill or disabled.
Cream tea fundraisers will be happening all over the country during the summer period – to find your nearest event, contact the head office team on 01865 724931 or email info@rabi.org.uk.
