Farming News - Rural Charities to Benefit from H&H's Support
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Rural Charities to Benefit from H&H's Support
H&H Group staff across all companies have chosen RABI, RSABI, and North West based Growing Well to support through a range of fundraising initiatives
Three exceptional rural charities which focus on mental health have been chosen to benefit from a year of fundraising by staff throughout the H&H Group of companies, across the North of England, and Scottish Borders.
Invited to nominate their choice of a national charity, and regional based charity, staff collectively chose to support nationally the RABI (Royal Agricultural Benevolent Institution) and the RSABI (Royal Scottish Agricultural Benevolent Institution), both which provide mental health support and guidance, practical care, and financial support to those facing adversity within the farming community. For regional support Growing Well, was selected. This ground-breaking community enterprise helps hundreds of people across the North West to overcome mental health problems through therapeutic horticultural activities at their three organic kitchen gardens at Kendal, Tebay, and Egremont.
Throughout the next twelve months, each charity will benefit with support from staff across the Group and its businesses, including Harrison & Hetherington, H&H Insurance Brokers, H&H Reeds, H&H Land & Estates, and H&H Auction Rooms. The programme of fundraising events kicks off with a team cycling 100km in the Northumberland's Wooler Wheel sportive, followed by an inter-company Rounders Tournament, participation in Gelt Gladiator, a companywide Hadrian's Wall Walk, together with a Summer Charity Ball.
H&H Group CEO Richard Rankin says the choice of charities reflects the Group's continued commitment to the agricultural community as a whole and the North West region in particular. "All our companies and our people are rooted in rural business and rural life, and the charities they have chosen to support this year are close to our hearts. And as we continue to champion mental health, raising awareness in the rural sector, it's no coincidence these charities have a strong bias to mental health support."
"RABI and RSABI are the principal charities focused on supporting members of the farming community facing difficulties, and their work is absolutely crucial, particularly in the current circumstances when farmers and their families are struggling with unprecedented challenges.
Growing Well is a wonderful example of lateral thinking that has created a new model for mental health care combining therapy and horticulture, which is something many of us with gardens should be able to relate to."
The CEO will join the Group's other Managing Directors in using their paid annual Volunteering Day to help at the Growing Well garden at Kendal in May, with other dates planned for interested staff who wish to use their volunteer day for this charity. Richard Rankin believes the synergy and choice of the chosen charities will generate exceptional levels of involvement and fundraising results.
"Over the past two years, our people raised a fantastic total of over £34,500 for our selected charities. This time I feel we have chosen causes that will inspire everybody, enabling us to raise the bar and make an even greater contribution to RABI, RSABI and Growing Well."
On being chosen as one of the H&H Group's charities, Rebecca Batstone, Partnerships Manager for Growing Well said, "Growing Well are absolutely delighted to be chosen as the Regional Charity to receive the support of H&H staff this year. We have faced a huge increase in demand for our mental health service, which we are aiming to meet through expanding our sites from one to three. We know that being outdoors, engaged in practical, meaningful activity is good for everyone's mental health recovery and this valuable support from H&H will allow us to continue to deliver our services free of charge to those who need us most."
Paul Pirie, Head of Fundraising at RABI said, ""We're delighted that H&H Group and its staff have chosen to support RABI through their fundraising initiatives this year and are hugely grateful for their commitment to helping farming people. The money raised will play a vital role in enabling RABI to continue providing guidance, practical care, and financial support to those in need within the farming community across England and Wales."
RABI (The Royal Agricultural Benevolent Institution)
RABI provides practical, financial and emotional support services directly through our regionally based team and via partnerships with other specialist providers. Whether it's giving expert advice on benefits potentially available to farming people or accessing mental health support, RABI is committed to addressing the individual needs of farming people and offering a beacon of hope.
RSABI (Royal Scottish Agricultural Benevolent Institution)
RSABI provides practical, emotional, and financial support to all people involved in the Scottish agricultural industry. They support people of all ages, including those affected by illness, accident, bereavement and those struggling with their mental wellbeing, and is available to those previously and currently involved in farming, crofting and occupations related to agriculture in Scotland.
Growing Well
Founded as a social enterprise in 2004, over the past two decades Growing Well has been attended by thousands of beneficiaries from across Cumbria and North Lancashire, who have undertaken
therapeutic horticultural activities in three market gardens that have been established at Kendal, Tebay and Egremont.