Future of farming conference raises more than £1,000 for RABI to help support agricultural community
Annual conference run by CLA, Plumpton College and Virgin Money donated ticket sales to charity
A farming conference has donated more than £1,000 to the Royal Agricultural Benevolent Institution (RABI), to help support the agricultural community.
The CLA and Virgin Money recently partnered with Plumpton College to host the South East Future of Farming Conference 2024, attended by farmers, landowners, students, professionals and other stakeholders.
Proceeds from tickets totalled £1,260 and have now been donated to RABI, the leading UK farming charity that provides expert mental health and well-being support, as well as financial, emotional and practical help to agricultural people.
Leanne Sinclair, fundraising manager at RABI, said: “I was delighted to be invited to the future of farming conference on behalf of RABI.
“RABI is the charity at the heart of farming across England and Wales, offering practical, emotional and financial help to the farming community. This donation will support farming people, providing professional, compassionate and holistic support.”
Proud to support
The conference featured inspiring talks, workshops, networking and food, held at Plumpton College's £10m AgriFood Centre, after the success of the inaugural event last year attracted 175 delegates.
Speakers including Lord Deben, Joe Stanley, Eleanor Gilbert and Flavian Obiero shared their farming experiences and advice on sustainability and productivity.
Tim Bamford, CLA South East Director, said: “The CLA is delighted the conference was a big success again this year, and proud that it’s been able to support the invaluable work of RABI.”
Justin Ellis, Agricultural Business Manager, Virgin Money, said: “Once again this year we had a great array of content and challenge from our speakers with a clear passion to drive our industry forward. The event was a great success, topped with an impressive donation to RABI who deliver such important support to farmers across England and Wales.”
Jeremy Kerswell, Principal at Plumpton College, said: “RABI continues to do such invaluable work for so many across the farming industry and when planning our 2024 Future of Farming event, it felt the natural choice for them to be the beneficiaries. I’m delighted the event was such a success, thus benefitting the sector in so many ways, including supporting such an important role that RABI fill.”