RABI’s week at the Royal Welsh Agricultural Show (22-25 July) began with our Empowering the Worth and Wellbeing of Farming People reception on Monday 22 July. Chaired by ITV Cymru’s Hannah Thomas, the event featured a panel discussion focusing on the purpose of the initiative, current issues affecting the wellbeing of Welsh farmers and the call for collaborative solutions.
Attendees included Senedd members, Westminster politicians, opinion formers, influencers, RABI partner organisations and other sector allies. For more details on this story, please click here.
On Tuesday 23 July, Bob the Sheepdog, Wales Farm Safety Partnership’s mascot, visited the RABI stand. His appearance coincided with the release of their new book, ‘Diolch byth am Bob’ / ‘Nice one Bob’, which is designed to inform children about farm safety.
As a partner organisation, RABI is proud to be involved with the WFSP and looks forward to the positive impact this publication will have on farming families and their children.
RABI was pleased to welcome Huw Irranca-Davies MS, Cabinet Secretary for Climate Change and Rural Affairs, and newly appointed Mental Health Minister Sarah Murphy MS to our stand on Wednesday 24 July.
The Ministers were informed about our Empowering the Worth and Wellbeing of Farming People initiative, as well as the financial, practical and emotional support RABI offers. They also learned about our current Return to School grant and Click & Chat counselling service.
Discussions with the Ministers underscored critical issues such as the need to address mental health stigma within the farming community and the pressures related to succession planning. Mr Irranca-Davies remarked that RABI is needed now more than ever and stressed the necessity of showcasing the positive aspects of farming as well as the challenges.
Huw Irranca-Davies MS, Cabinet Secretary for Climate Change and Rural Affairs, and Sarah Murphy MS, Mental Health Minister
The charity was also honoured to receive a generous £5,000 donation from former dairy farmer Emyr Wigley, who presented the cheque to RABI Head of Fundraising, Paul Pirie.
Emyr has been an active fundraiser over the years, raising well over £200,000 for RABI and Ovarian Cancer Action in memory of his wife. He achieved much of this sum from the sale of his pedigree British Blue cattle herd, known as ‘The Old Stackyard Blues’, last year.
His contributions are greatly appreciated and will go towards supporting more farming people in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Emyr Wigley with Paul Pirie
