SCOTTISH FARMING charity RSABI has launched its 'biggest ever' campaign to highlight the range of support it provides – and double the membership of its supporter schemes.

The six-week #supportRSABI campaign, in the run-up to the festive season, will seek to raise awareness of the services it offers, from helping with money worries and employment concerns, to accident, illness and mental well-being. At the same time, the charity will be encouraging people with links to agriculture in Scotland to join its Supporters Schemes as individual, business or corporate members, hoping to double each of these categories by September 2020.

The campaign is being backed by a host of agricultural organisations including NFU Scotland, Scottish Land and Estates, the Scottish Association of Young Farmers Clubs, Royal Highland and Agricultural Society of Scotland, the National Sheep Association of Scotland, Quality Meat Scotland, Scotland Food and Drink, Scottish Association of Meat Wholesalers, the Scottish Crofting Federation, Scotland’s Rural College/SAC Consulting and the Institute of Auctioneers and Appraisers of Scotland

RSABI chief executive Nina Clancy said the charity was preparing to step up its resources in response to anticipated increased demand for its services from a farming industry facing the uncertainty of the post-Brexit era.

One trend which staff who run RSABI's confidential helpline – 0300 111 4166 – have noticed is the increasing number of working farmers, and younger people, who are making contact, compared with a few years ago when the callers were older, and often no longer working full-time.

“RSABI is here to help people from Scottish agriculture and, without question, people requiring practical and emotional support is an increasing part of our workload,” said Ms Clancy. “Working in agriculture can be a lonely lifestyle and the nature of farming businesses means that unexpected challenges – such as weather, accident or ill-health – can result in difficulties for farmers and their families.”

RSABI chairman Ewan Pate said it was essential that the charity had sufficient resources to allow it to fully deliver its range of services, and that people who are experiencing difficulty do not hesitate to ask for, and receive, that help.

“We are reaching out to the agricultural and wider rural community to ask for their support for our campaign and help us to both raise awareness of our services and much-needed funds to allow us to step up the resources we provide,” said Mr Pate.

During the coming weeks, RSABI will be showcasing the work it undertakes with a major PR-push, which will include case studies of supporters from different parts of the industry explaining why the work carried out by the charity is so important. It will also be urging people to consider buying a £25 individual membership as a Christmas gift and to consider making a donation to RSABI on Christmas jumper day, Friday December 13.