News

Partnership to support efforts to address mental health has turned one year old

A partnership to support efforts to address mental health issues among the farming community has turned one year old – with Newton LDP proud to announce further plans to raise funding and awareness in 2023.

Newton LDP established a charitable partnership with the Royal Agricultural Benevolent Institution (RABI) in January last year to assist with the charity’s efforts to support the farming community across England and Wales.

Its first event saw more than 160 property professionals take part in a charity clay shoot at the prestigious Shuckburgh Estate last May, which raised more than £23,000 for RABI through a dinner, raffle and sponsorship.

Proceeds have been allocated towards two of RABI’s new counselling and mental health training services, launched in response to the results of its Big Farming Survey which found a third of the farming community are probably or possibly depressed.

Sadly, since the launch of RABI’s new mental wellbeing services in January 2022, the demand for face-to-face, professional counselling has been 12 times the expected uptake.

In 2022 alone, RABI supported over two-and-a-half times as many farming people than in 2021 – demonstrating a steep rise in the demand for its services with the farming community heavily impacted by rapidly rising costs.

Piers Beeton, Director at Newton LDP, said: “We have a strong working relationship with farming communities as many of us have spent our lives and careers growing up in or working within them.

“The pressures on the farming community have only been heightened by the global challenges in economies both abroad and at home, which makes the work of charities such as RABI and the role they play so vital.

“We are proud to support their work over the past 12 months and are thankful to all who took part and generously sponsored last year’s event.

“I am really pleased to say the fundraiser will return this year and will be held on Thursday 11th May at the Shuckburgh Estate, once again.”

Other schemes launched by RABI last year include its Return to School campaign last summer, which was its most impactful standalone campaign to date, providing £1.5 million in grants to farming families facing financial and emotional challenges in the run up to the new school year.

Return to School provided support to more than 3,800 people - almost 90% of which had connected with RABI with the first time - supporting RABI’s ambition to reach four times more farming people by 2024.

Suzy Deeley, head of partnerships at RABI, added: “Thanks to the tremendous support RABI receives from organisations such as Newton LDP, we are able to respond to specific needs in the farming community while developing and extending our support offer.

“Last year’s clay shoot raised over £23,000 and this generous donation has helped us to make a real difference to the farming people that RABI helped in 2022. With so many ongoing pressures impacting the sector RABI continues to provide an extensive range of holistic, wraparound support services - covering wellbeing, financial support and practical advice and guidance.

“Being able to support our community is dependent on robust resourcing - something RABI is in the unique position to be able to do, thanks in part to organisations such as Newton LDP who support our initiatives. Thank you to everyone who has joined Newton LDP’s fundraising events and we look forward to another successful event this year.”

To express your interest in the next Newton LDP Clay Shoot on 11th May 2023, please email Tilly England at communications@newtonldp.com.