RABI Volunteer Newsletter – May 2026
Welcome to the latest online newsletter for RABI volunteers.
Volunteers’ Week
Every year during the first week of June, we celebrate Volunteers’ Week – a special opportunity to recognise and thank volunteers across the UK for the incredible difference they make.
At RABI, we want to take this opportunity to say a heartfelt thank you to every one of our volunteers. Whether you are fundraising within your local community, supporting events, sharing information, or helping us connect with farming people face-to-face, your time, energy and commitment make a genuine and lasting impact.
Thanks to you, more people are hearing about the support available through RABI, communities are coming together, and farming people are feeling more connected and supported.
Our volunteers also play an important role in helping shape the future of RABI. Through sharing your experiences, ideas and local insight, you help us better understand the needs of farming people and how we can continue to grow and strengthen our volunteer programme in meaningful ways.
A brilliant example of this is our Community Champions Working Group. Volunteers came together to share their knowledge and perspectives, helping us develop new opportunities and approaches shaped by real experience and understanding. Their insight has been instrumental in helping us build volunteering opportunities that are flexible, inclusive and focused on the future.
Christine, who is both a Committee Chair and member of the Working Group, shared:
“Volunteering with RABI is about supporting farming people and helping raise awareness of the challenges many face, often quietly and behind the scenes. Being part of a committee has given me the opportunity to connect with people across the farming community and work alongside people who genuinely want to make a difference.
Being part of the Working Group brought us together to share ideas and experiences. It really highlighted how important it is to listen to local perspectives and create opportunities that work for different people and different areas – there isn’t a ‘one size fits all’ solution.”
Alison, a Committee Chair, also shared what volunteering means to her:
We’re always looking to welcome new volunteers, with lots of different ways to get involved. Volunteering is a great way to support others, meet new people and be part of something meaningful – so why not encourage a friend or someone in your community to get involved too?
Introducing a New T-Shirt Design
Our volunteers will be stepping into show season with a fresh addition to their RABI uniform this year – brand-new RABI t-shirts! Designed to help our teams stand out alongside their existing volunteer kit, the new look will make it even easier for visitors to spot RABI at busy events and shows.
Bright, welcoming and easy to spot, the new t-shirts will help volunteers start conversations and raise awareness of the support RABI provides to farming communities.
Keep an eye out for our volunteers wearing them at shows across the country this summer.
Spring meet up and FarmersAid
A huge thank you to everyone who joined our online Spring Meet-Up. We hope you found the session useful. It was fantastic to see so many volunteers coming together to hear updates from across RABI, share ideas and connect with fellow volunteers.
If you couldn’t attend, or would like to revisit the session, you can watch the recording here. (Passcode: K7L*S7u8)
What happens when people call RABI?
This is one of the questions we know you get asked when you are out and about representing RABI.
Please find a brief overview on what happens here.
It’s good to remember that:
- Our confidential helpline is a triage service to ensure all calls are actioned appropriately.
- Once we have someone’s agreement they are referred to a Regional Support Officer who will contact them and understand their needs.
- Dependent on the situation the appropriate action is taken – this may result in an in-person visit from a Regional Support Officer, recommendation for counselling etc.
Please have a read and hope this helps you answer some of the questions you receive as a volunteer.
RABI Volunteer Newsletter – May 2026
Welcome to the latest online newsletter for RABI volunteers.
Volunteers’ Week
Every year during the first week of June, we celebrate Volunteers’ Week – a special opportunity to recognise and thank volunteers across the UK for the incredible difference they make.
At RABI, we want to take this opportunity to say a heartfelt thank you to every one of our volunteers. Whether you are fundraising within your local community, supporting events, sharing information, or helping us connect with farming people face-to-face, your time, energy and commitment make a genuine and lasting impact.
Thanks to you, more people are hearing about the support available through RABI, communities are coming together, and farming people are feeling more connected and supported.
Our volunteers also play an important role in helping shape the future of RABI. Through sharing your experiences, ideas and local insight, you help us better understand the needs of farming people and how we can continue to grow and strengthen our volunteer programme in meaningful ways.
A brilliant example of this is our Community Champions Working Group. Volunteers came together to share their knowledge and perspectives, helping us develop new opportunities and approaches shaped by real experience and understanding. Their insight has been instrumental in helping us build volunteering opportunities that are flexible, inclusive and focused on the future.
Christine, who is both a Committee Chair and member of the Working Group, shared:
“Volunteering with RABI is about supporting farming people and helping raise awareness of the challenges many face, often quietly and behind the scenes. Being part of a committee has given me the opportunity to connect with people across the farming community and work alongside people who genuinely want to make a difference.
Being part of the Working Group brought us together to share ideas and experiences. It really highlighted how important it is to listen to local perspectives and create opportunities that work for different people and different areas – there isn’t a ‘one size fits all’ solution.”
Alison, a Committee Chair, also shared what volunteering means to her:
We’re always looking to welcome new volunteers, with lots of different ways to get involved. Volunteering is a great way to support others, meet new people and be part of something meaningful – so why not encourage a friend or someone in your community to get involved too?
Introducing a New T-Shirt Design
Our volunteers will be stepping into show season with a fresh addition to their RABI uniform this year – brand-new RABI t-shirts! Designed to help our teams stand out alongside their existing volunteer kit, the new look will make it even easier for visitors to spot RABI at busy events and shows.
Bright, welcoming and easy to spot, the new t-shirts will help volunteers start conversations and raise awareness of the support RABI provides to farming communities.
Keep an eye out for our volunteers wearing them at shows across the country this summer.
Spring meet up and FarmersAid
A huge thank you to everyone who joined our online Spring Meet-Up. We hope you found the session useful. It was fantastic to see so many volunteers coming together to hear updates from across RABI, share ideas and connect with fellow volunteers.
If you couldn’t attend, or would like to revisit the session, you can watch the recording here. (Passcode: K7L*S7u8)
What happens when people call RABI?
This is one of the questions we know you get asked when you are out and about representing RABI.
Please find a brief overview on what happens here.
It’s good to remember that:
- Our confidential helpline is a triage service to ensure all calls are actioned appropriately.
- Once we have someone’s agreement they are referred to a Regional Support Officer who will contact them and understand their needs.
- Dependent on the situation the appropriate action is taken – this may result in an in-person visit from a Regional Support Officer, recommendation for counselling etc.
Please have a read and hope this helps you answer some of the questions you receive as a volunteer.
