NFU SETS UP FUND AFTER RECEIVING FLOODS OF
DONATIONS
The NFU has been given so many generous offers of
money to help farmers struggling with foot and mouth that it has set up a fund
to make sure it gets to those who need it.
The Supporting Farmers in Crisis fund will administer and distribute the offers
of help that run to several million pounds.
It aims to channel the huge level of public and commercial donations being
offered to the NFU to help farmers through the crisis now but also in the
future once foot and mouth has been eradicated.
The money will be held in trust and administered by a small committee of
representatives from the NFU, the Royal Agricultural Benevolent Institution
(RABI) and other senior figures from business and agriculture.
An example of some of the offers of help is the Institute of Grocery
Distribution industry fund set up to assist farmers in rebuilding their
businesses and regain competitiveness in the marketplace. This initiative,
announced earlier this week, will be channelled through the NFU fund.
NFU President Ben Gill: "We have taken this step as a result of the many
requests from individual donors and commercial companies for advice from the
NFU on how best to help farmers in both the short and longer term.
"So many people have been so keen to help in such a small period of time
that it has been quite amazing to us.
"We are extremely grateful for all the offers of help such as that from
the IGD industry fund which has received donations from the supermarkets.
"We felt it was vital that we set up a dedicated team to make sure that
these kind offers will find the best home."
The "trustees" will not only direct funds to the existing crisis
charitiessuch as RABI and the Rural Stress Information Network, but will also
look at marketing, promotion and business support initiatives to help restore
the market income to the farming industry.
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