Farming fundraisers from Monmouthshire raised £450 for the Royal Agricultural Benevolent Institution (RABI) with a beef Sunday lunch at Maria’s award-winning mart café at Monmouthshire Livestock Centre.

The lunch on May 15 was part of Great British Beef Week – an annual campaign organised by Ladies in Beef, a group of female beef farmers, who want to promote Red Tractor assured British beef in conjunction with charity partner RABI

More than 50 people attended the dinner, with some succulent beef donated by David, Phillip and Robert Sevenoaks of Abergavenny (trading as Weeks Cardiff).

In 2015, RABIgave out grants of £1.9 million to farming people in financial hardship. In Wales, more than £263k was paid out to 200 individuals and families. To fund its work, RABI relies heavily on voluntary donations, including events organised by voluntary committees, businesses, community groups and fundraising staff.

R.A.B.I’s Monmouthshire committee was only established last winter, but the committee’s first ever fundraising event – a quiz night – brought in more than £3,000.

County committee chairman Gwilym Richards said, “I recently attended RABI’s AGM and heard first-hand, from the farming people the charity helps, just how valued our support is. We can make a genuine difference to the lives of farming families in hardship.”

Kate Beavan, Monmouthshire county committee secretary, added, “We are extremely grateful once again to the Monmouthshire farming community for supporting this Sunday lunch. To raise £450 was wonderful.”

Linda Jones, RABIregional manager for Wales, said: “I would like to thank Maria, her staff, all at the Livestock Centre and the committee members for hosting this fundraiser. We’re now looking forward to a family farm fun day on Sunday July 31 at Kate and Jim Beavan’s farm. It’s sure to be a cracking day out.”