The Royal Agricultural Benevolent Institution (R.A.B.I) is staging its Welly Week campaign from Saturday 31 October to Sunday 8 November, to highlight the charity’s work and raise funds for those in the farming community in financial difficulty.
R.A.B.I corporate development manager Suzy Deeley said: “With falling prices across various sectors, it has been a tough year for many in the farming world. Welly Week is a chance for the public to show solidarity with British farmers, be that on a farm, in an office or down the pub.”
R.A.B.I is urging individuals, families, schools, clubs, colleges and businesses to get involved with their autumn campaign and create an event around the humble welly, which came into being when the Duke of Wellington ordered his shoemaker to modify his boots to provide some protection to his knees during battle.
Suzy added: “If the shoe fits, just do it! Welly discos, sky dives, tractor pulls, and welly wanging competitions are all fundraisers that have been held in the past, along with ‘wellies to work’ days.
“We want people to have some fun, whilst remembering there are many within the farming sector who desperately need our support to get through what could be a tough winter.”
Last year, R.A.B.I gave out close to £2m in grants, including more than £297k to working farmers. This year, to date, the 155-year-old charity has paid out more than £1m in grants, contributing over £89k towards clearing domestic utility bills.
Suzy Deeley added: “Farmers don’t want special treatment. All they want is a fair price for a more than fair product and to be able to make a living from what they love doing most – which is farming.”
Follow the Welly Week campaign using #wellyweek2015 and tweet details of your event to @RABIcharity. For a free Welly Week fundraising pack contact Beth Steiner on 01865 811581 or email beth.steiner@rabi.org.uk
Thanks to the generosity of Gumleaf and NEMi you can win Gumleaf wellies and NEMi branded fleeces every day from November 2-6 by entering R.A.B.I’s Welly Week competition. For details, go to Twitter.com/rabicharity, Facebook.com/rabicharity1 or www.rabi.org.uk/welly-week-2015