Agri-supply businesses in Scotland and their trade association the Agricultural Industries Confederation (AIC) have donated £2,000 to farming charity RSABI, supporting people involved in Scottish agriculture.
The funds were raised by AIC Scotland Member businesses at its annual dinner last November, where a fundraising raffle was held.
RSABI provides practical, emotional, and financial support to people involved in the Scottish agricultural industry who are struggling.
AIC Scotland Policy Manager Ian Muirhead said: “On behalf of AIC Scotland Members, I am pleased to present this donation to RSABI.
“The charity does exceptional work to support those in the Scottish agricultural industry, which is why AIC Scotland became a Corporate Member of RSABI’s Supporter Scheme in June last year. We look forward to working with RSABI in the year ahead.”
Jimmy McLean, RSABI Chair, said: “We’re very grateful to AIC and their member businesses for choosing to raise funds for RSABI. It’s a fantastic sum and will help us to provide vital support to people in Scottish agriculture. For example, £2000 could pay for 45 hours of counselling for farmers or crofters making a huge difference to the lives and mental wellbeing of those in need of such support.
“We were also delighted to welcome AIC to our Supporter Scheme last summer as a corporate member. Our Supporters’ Scheme is a vital source of income for us and in our 125th anniversary year we are aiming to attract 125 new individuals and supporters to the schemes.”
The support RSABI offers ranges from emotional, to practical and financial and includes Help for Heating and re-training grants. The free, confidential support service is available 24 hours a day, every day of the year, by calling 0808 1234 555 or using the webchat service on the RSABI website.
The Agricultural Industries Confederation (AIC) is the UK’s leading trade association, representing agricultural supply chain sectors including arable marketing, crop protection, agronomy, feed, fertiliser, and seed. Formed in 2003, AIC has over 230 members in the agri-supply trade which are responsible for £9 billion of annual farm trade.
[IMAGE CAPTION: From left: Sarah Bell (AIC Scotland Chair), Jimmy McLean (RSABI Chair), Harry Seran (RSABI Finance and Digital Manager), and Ian Muirhead (AIC Scotland Policy Manager). Credit: RSABI/AIC Scotland.]