Farmers in North Ayrshire will have the opportunity to benefit from free business support, worth around £120,000, thanks to a new Farm Resilience Programme.
The Royal Countryside Fund (RCF), formerly The Prince’s Countryside Fund, is again working in partnership with agricultural charity RSABI to deliver the series of free workshops, providing free business skills and environmental training and one-to-one support to farming families.
This time, farmers in North Ayrshire, West Aberdeenshire and Orkney will benefit.
In total, 60 livestock farming families in the three areas will benefit from around £2000 of support per family business, and interested farmers can apply to join the programme now via https://www.royalcountrysidefund.org.uk/how-we-help/family-farm-businesses/farm-resilience-programmes-sign-up/.
The programme is open to dairy and livestock family farm businesses and takes a whole-farm and whole-family approach with three excellent coordinators for each of the areas now appointed. Karen Johnston is coordinator for the programme in Orkney, Gwen Chalmers in West Aberdeenshire and Kirsty Mitchell in North Ayrshire.
A “Meet and Greet” opportunity for farming families interested in taking part in the programme hosted by Doug Bell, Scottish Programme Manager, Carol McLaren, CEO of RSABI and the three programme coordinators, will take place on Thursday, October 12 at 7pm via Zoom.
Those interested in coming along can reserve a spot at www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/farm-resilience-programme-meet-greet-tickets-733505503707?aff=ebdssbeac
Since 2016, the Farm Resilience Programme has supported farming families throughout the UK to improve their business performance and make real changes on-farm. A recent independent evaluation of the programme found it delivers significant economic, social, and environmental benefits for farmers.
Keith Halstead, executive director, The Royal Countryside Fund, said “We are delighted to be working in partnership with RSABI to deliver the RCF’s Farm Resilience Programme in Scotland in 2023/24.
“I would encourage family farms in North Ayrshire, West Aberdeenshire and Orkney to find out more about the programme to see if it can help them plan the future of their farming enterprises.”
Kirsty Mitchell can be contacted via k50mitchell@gmail.com.
Find further general information on The Royal Countryside Fund’s website www.royalcountrysidefund.org.uk.
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