Continuing the Yorkshire Rural Support Network’s spotlight series to raise awareness of the varied organisations and charities that make up our Network, today we’re focusing on the work of the Addington Fund.
Addington Fund is a dedicated farming charity working to support farmers and rural communities across England and Wales. Established in response to the 2001 Foot and Mouth Disease crisis, the charity continues to provide practical, compassionate assistance to those facing hardship or disruption within the farming sector.
Whilst their Head Office is in Warwickshire, the team are very active in Yorkshire, where some of Addington Fund’s trustees live and work. The team includes ex-farmers and those born into farming families, for that hands-on perspective. We are pleased to welcome a member of the Addington Fund team at the quarterly YRSN meetings to fully understand what’s happening in the county and the wider north of England agricultural sector.
Jo Webb, Business Development Manager at Addington Fund, shares more information here:
We support farming people in three unique ways:
Addington Fund works with them to find safe, suitable homes in preferred locations. Farmers often face an uncertain future when they are forced to leave their homes due to ill health, retirement, or the nonviability of their farms.
Whether dealing with the impacts of extreme weather, animal disease or unexpected farm emergencies, Addington, through Forage Aid, offers timely grants and practical assistance to help safeguard livestock, maintain business continuity and support farmer wellbeing.
Our proactive New Entrant Scheme offers grants of up to £3000 to those at the beginning of their farming careers. We are also establishing a network of starter farms, giving a first step onto the farming ladder.
Please visit our website to find out more about how to request support: Here For You — Addington Fund
We are pleased to turn the charity spotlight series to look at the Addington Fund’s work in a pivotal year for the charity. Not only are they marking their 25th anniversary, but they also expect to have the first tenant of their flagship starter farm, Whins Farm, in Cumbria, in situ this autumn.
Since acquiring the farm last summer, the charity has been busy undertaking major development of the land and buildings. The farm is intended to show future legators how Addington Fund might use farms pledged to them in Wills as similar starter farms to help overcome the barriers often faced by new entrants to farming.
