Freephone Helpline:
    0800 188 4444

    Donate via
    Just Giving

     
    • About us
      • Strategy
      • Our people
        • Our history
        • Principals & trustees
        • Job Vacancies
      • Real life stories
      • Reports
      • Safeguarding
      • Complaints policy & procedure
    • How we help
      • Get in touch
      • Click & Chat – online mental wellbeing service
      • Return to School
      • Individuals and families
        • In-person counselling support for farmers
        • Mental health training for the farming community
        • Training grants
      • Organisations
      • Useful links
    • News & events
      • News
      • Events
      • RABI News
      • Big Farming Survey
    • Want to help?
      • Want to help?
      • Fundraise for us
      • Volunteer with RABI
      • Group & corporate support
      • Keep it safe & legal
    • Donate
      • Donate
      • Gift Aid
      • RABI cards and calendars
      • Christmas appeal 2023
      • Remember us in your will
      • Gifts in memory
    • Shop
    • Contact us
      • Contact us
    Need support? Call 0800 188 4444

    Donate via Just Giving

    Main Menu
    • About us
      • Strategy
      • Our people
        • Our history
        • Principals & trustees
        • Job Vacancies
      • Real life stories
      • Reports
      • Safeguarding
      • Complaints policy & procedure
    • How we help
      • Get in touch
      • Click & Chat – online mental wellbeing service
      • Return to School
      • Individuals and families
        • In-person counselling support for farmers
        • Mental health training for the farming community
        • Training grants
      • Organisations
      • Useful links
    • News & events
      • News
      • Events
      • RABI News
      • Big Farming Survey
    • Want to help?
      • Want to help?
      • Fundraise for us
      • Volunteer with RABI
      • Group & corporate support
      • Keep it safe & legal
    • Donate
      • Donate
      • Gift Aid
      • RABI cards and calendars
      • Christmas appeal 2023
      • Remember us in your will
      • Gifts in memory
    • Shop
    • Contact us
      • Contact us
    Need support? Call 0800 188 4444

    Main Menu
    • About us
      • Strategy
      • Our people
        • Our history
        • Principals & trustees
        • Job Vacancies
      • Real life stories
      • Reports
      • Safeguarding
      • Complaints policy & procedure
    • How we help
      • Get in touch
      • Click & Chat – online mental wellbeing service
      • Return to School
      • Individuals and families
        • In-person counselling support for farmers
        • Mental health training for the farming community
        • Training grants
      • Organisations
      • Useful links
    • News & events
      • News
      • Events
      • RABI News
      • Big Farming Survey
    • Want to help?
      • Want to help?
      • Fundraise for us
      • Volunteer with RABI
      • Group & corporate support
      • Keep it safe & legal
    • Donate
      • Donate
      • Gift Aid
      • RABI cards and calendars
      • Christmas appeal 2023
      • Remember us in your will
      • Gifts in memory
    • Shop
    • Contact us
      • Contact us
    Need support? Call 0800 188 4444

    Donate via Just Giving

    Main Menu
    • About us
      • Strategy
      • Our people
        • Our history
        • Principals & trustees
        • Job Vacancies
      • Real life stories
      • Reports
      • Safeguarding
      • Complaints policy & procedure
    • How we help
      • Get in touch
      • Click & Chat – online mental wellbeing service
      • Return to School
      • Individuals and families
        • In-person counselling support for farmers
        • Mental health training for the farming community
        • Training grants
      • Organisations
      • Useful links
    • News & events
      • News
      • Events
      • RABI News
      • Big Farming Survey
    • Want to help?
      • Want to help?
      • Fundraise for us
      • Volunteer with RABI
      • Group & corporate support
      • Keep it safe & legal
    • Donate
      • Donate
      • Gift Aid
      • RABI cards and calendars
      • Christmas appeal 2023
      • Remember us in your will
      • Gifts in memory
    • Shop
    • Contact us
      • Contact us
    Need support? Call 0800 188 4444

    Main Menu
    • About us
      • Strategy
      • Our people
        • Our history
        • Principals & trustees
        • Job Vacancies
      • Real life stories
      • Reports
      • Safeguarding
      • Complaints policy & procedure
    • How we help
      • Get in touch
      • Click & Chat – online mental wellbeing service
      • Return to School
      • Individuals and families
        • In-person counselling support for farmers
        • Mental health training for the farming community
        • Training grants
      • Organisations
      • Useful links
    • News & events
      • News
      • Events
      • RABI News
      • Big Farming Survey
    • Want to help?
      • Want to help?
      • Fundraise for us
      • Volunteer with RABI
      • Group & corporate support
      • Keep it safe & legal
    • Donate
      • Donate
      • Gift Aid
      • RABI cards and calendars
      • Christmas appeal 2023
      • Remember us in your will
      • Gifts in memory
    • Shop
    • Contact us
      • Contact us
    A group of people
    Tarquin Swingers win County Durham golf day
    10/06/2019
    Simon Gardener and Kris Band in front of a tractor
    Gloucestershire farm opens gates for visitors
    11/06/2019

    Frank’s Story

    11/06/2019
    Categories
    • Central England
    • National News
    Tags
    • Real life stories
    • Warwickshire
    Caroline Harrison and Frank Badger

    Caroline Harrison and Frank BadgerWelfare officer Caroline Harrison with Frank Badger

    The life of Warwickshire farmer Frank Badger was turned upside down following a stroke and the death of his wife. Here, Frank, who also spoke at RABI’s annual conference, shares his personal story.

    By Frank Badger

    I have been a farmer all of my life. I have mainly farmed sheep but have also worked with pigs and cattle. I was first referred to RABI last year.

    I had been caring for my wife for many years as she suffered from dementia. I did this whilst continuing to farm. Sadly, my wife recently passed away. I had mentioned to one of her carers that I did not know what I would do when I went in for the hip replacement operation that I had been advised that I needed. I had been putting this off as I did not know what would happen with my wife.

    Caroline, from RABI contacted me and we arranged to meet at the farm. She took all of my details and we discussed the farm. We also talked about what was worrying me. Caroline contacted Social Services and got the ball rolling to arrange a care package for my wife while I was in hospital. We also talked about the cost of a shepherd to keep the farm going. In addition, she asked me about my wife’s income and advised me that she should be entitled to a benefit because of her care needs. Caroline requested the form and came back another day to complete it with me. My wife was then awarded this. This is something that I would never have known about.

    RABI gave me a grant to pay for a shepherd and this, together with Caroline’s discussions with Social Services, meant that I could book in for my long awaited pre-operation appointment. This was a huge relief to me.

    However, I did not make this appointment. I was still working on the farm when I suffered a major stroke. I was in hospital for around four months. I was told that I may not walk again and my wife had to be taken into residential care. While I was in hospital Caroline visited me to complete some more forms. It meant a lot to me to know that RABI’s support was still there at such a terrible time.

    My family kept the farm going and later in the year I was given a further grant to allow the shepherd to continue working. RABI also arranged for a farm secretary from the Institute of Agricultural Secretaries and Administrators (IAgSA) to visit me as my paperwork was, unsurprisingly, not up to date.

    When I came home from hospital Caroline visited me to complete some Personal Independence Payment forms. These forms are long at the best of times, but I was unable to write or to see the print because of my stroke. I find the system to be an absolute minefield and so I was very happy to have Caroline’s help. She also came back another day for the Personal Independence Payment medical assessment that I had been worried about. This was a great reassurance to me as I had a lot to deal with at this time as I kept getting very ill from infections. On the same day as the medical assessment the farm secretary, Charlotte, visited so it was all systems go.

    I cannot tell you how relieved I was about this as we had an inspection for the SFP the following week and I would have been fined a lot if that secretary had not been provided. She was lovely and did some great work. Caroline still visits me and it means such a lot to stay in touch with RABI as their support is so important.

    I have so much respect for all of the people who work hard to raise money for RABI. I cannot thank you enough and cannot tell you what it has meant to me to have a safety net. I don’t know what my future in farming will be, but I would love to keep going at some level.

    Time will tell but the support that I have been given helps me to stay positive.

    Read more real life stories.

    Share

    Related posts

    26/09/2023

    Second annual Newton Cup clay shoot raises £27,900 for RABI


    Read more
    26/09/2023

    Dalton Farm Walk raises funds for RABI


    Read more
    26/09/2023

    Winsbury Dairy raises funds for RABI at Newport Show


    Read more

    In-person counselling support for farmers

    Mental health training for the farming sector

    Online mental wellbeing service

    Update

    Our freephone helpline is operating. If you need support during these uncertain times, please don't hesitate to call us on
    0800 188 4444

    For general enquiries, please contact us on 01865 724 931 or info@rabi.org.uk

    Click here for more information.

    Can you support us?

    Due to the COVID19 pandemic, the amount of income we can generate has fallen. We need your support now more than ever. Every donation goes towards helping people in the farming community when they need it most.

    Donate

    Sign up to our newsletter

    Keep up to date with latest news and events with RABI News

    Subscribe

    Latest news from RABI

    • Second annual Newton Cup clay shoot raises £27,900 for RABI
      26/09/2023
    • Dalton Farm Walk raises funds for RABI
      26/09/2023
    • Winsbury Dairy raises funds for RABI at Newport Show
      26/09/2023

    Quick Links

    • Need help? Contact us
    • Make a donation
    • About us
    • Latest news
    • Job vacancies
    • Privacy & cookie policy

    Upcoming Events

    Click here to view our upcoming events

    Make a donation

    Call: 01865 724 931
    Download a donation form
    Donate via Just Giving

    Contact us

    RABI
    Shaw House
    27 West Way
    Oxford
    OX2 0QH

    Telephone: 01865 724 931
    Email: info@rabi.org.uk
    Helpline: 0800 188 4444

    Registered Charity No: 208858

    © 2023 - R.A.B.I. All Rights Reserved.
        This website uses cookies to improve your experience, including Google Analytics. Find out how to block and manage cookies here: Read More Accept Cookie settings
        Privacy & Cookies Policy

        Privacy Overview

        This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Some cookies are categorised as ‘Necessary’ for the basic functionalities of the website to work and these are stored on your browser. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyse and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent – you can opt-out below. Note that opting-out of ‘Non-necessary’ cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience.
        Necessary
        Always Enabled
        Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
        SAVE & ACCEPT