Farming welfare charity R.A.B.I. (Royal Agricultural Benevolent Institution) was able to raise its profile at Usk Show this year thanks to a funding boost from Barclays Bank and the effort of the show committee and Gwilym Richards and Co Auctioneers in organising a pitch.

R.A.B.I. helps farming people of all ages in financial difficulty. Support is confidential and includes one-off or regular payments, funding for disability equipment and essential household items such as white goods and payments towards relief farm staff, home-help and care costs.

Grants of around £2 million are given out each year in Wales and England. Much of the funding comes from events arranged by county committees.

The newly-formed Monmouthshire committee’s funds were boosted by the additional funding of £1,000 provided by Barclays Bank employee Tracy Evans and their match-funding scheme. Tracy who works at the Abergavenny Branch of Barclays Bank helped sell ducks for a duck race and baked cakes for the Family Farm Funday that was held at Great Tre-Rhew Farm.

Gwilym Richards, chair of R.A.B.I’s Monmouthshire committee, said, “We are very grateful to Tracy and Barclays Bank for their support. This match-funding makes a significant addition to our fundraising in Monmouthshire.”

Neil Smith, treasurer of the committee, added, “We would like to thank everyone for all the support we have received in Monmouthshire in our first year of activity. It’s a difficult time for farming families, but we are here to help.”

If you, or someone you know in farming, needs R.A.B.I’s help please call the confidential helpline 0808 281 9490.