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Welfare grants rocket for struggling Welsh farmers | Welfare grants rocket for struggling Welsh farmers |
(about 3 hours later) | |
A rural welfare charity helping struggling farming families has already handed out twice the amount in hardship grants that it awarded last year. | A rural welfare charity helping struggling farming families has already handed out twice the amount in hardship grants that it awarded last year. |
The Royal Agricultural Benevolent Institution (RABI) has given £220,000 to families across Wales to help pay bills. | The Royal Agricultural Benevolent Institution (RABI) has given £220,000 to families across Wales to help pay bills. |
In north Powys grants of £55,000 were awarded in the first six months of this year alone. | In north Powys grants of £55,000 were awarded in the first six months of this year alone. |
Since January RABI said it had helped 241 families in Wales. | Since January RABI said it had helped 241 families in Wales. |
The charity supports members of the farming community facing need, hardship or distress. | The charity supports members of the farming community facing need, hardship or distress. |
The news comes as rural Wales prepares for the Royal Welsh Show in Llanelwedd, Powys, which starts on Monday. | The news comes as rural Wales prepares for the Royal Welsh Show in Llanelwedd, Powys, which starts on Monday. |
RABI said last year's wet summer weather and heavy snow earlier this year, which resulted in farmers losing hundreds of lambs, had affected the rural community. | RABI said last year's wet summer weather and heavy snow earlier this year, which resulted in farmers losing hundreds of lambs, had affected the rural community. |
Of the £55,000 in grants awarded to families in the old county of Montgomeryshire, £44,000 was handed over to farmers or farm workers. | Of the £55,000 in grants awarded to families in the old county of Montgomeryshire, £44,000 was handed over to farmers or farm workers. |
In the same period last year only £1,500 was paid out in welfare payments. | In the same period last year only £1,500 was paid out in welfare payments. |
Erys Hughes, who manages RABI in Wales, said some rural families were finding it hard to make ends meet. | Erys Hughes, who manages RABI in Wales, said some rural families were finding it hard to make ends meet. |
"I think it's the outcome initially of the second wettest summer on record last year and the implications that it had," he said. | "I think it's the outcome initially of the second wettest summer on record last year and the implications that it had," he said. |
"Cost of production has gone up, cost of fodder has gone up. (There was a) loss of crops last year which meant there was a shortage of good quality fodder which we are used to. | "Cost of production has gone up, cost of fodder has gone up. (There was a) loss of crops last year which meant there was a shortage of good quality fodder which we are used to. |
"And then, of course, in parts of Wales we had the horrendous winter weather later on during the lambing season when literally thousands of lambs were lost. | "And then, of course, in parts of Wales we had the horrendous winter weather later on during the lambing season when literally thousands of lambs were lost. |
"The result, obviously, is a loss of income and pressure on farming families." | "The result, obviously, is a loss of income and pressure on farming families." |
Mr Hughes said the charity only helped families with household debts, such as electricity and telephone bills, and did not support farm businesses or animals. | Mr Hughes said the charity only helped families with household debts, such as electricity and telephone bills, and did not support farm businesses or animals. |
"It's recognised now that only 10% of many farmers' incomes go on the home. The higher percentage goes on the farm, the animals and maintaining the business as best as they can," Mr Hughes added. | "It's recognised now that only 10% of many farmers' incomes go on the home. The higher percentage goes on the farm, the animals and maintaining the business as best as they can," Mr Hughes added. |
"Families are definitely suffering." | "Families are definitely suffering." |
Around one in four people in Powys are not working which is above the Welsh average, while official figures put average wages in the county at about £22,000. | Around one in four people in Powys are not working which is above the Welsh average, while official figures put average wages in the county at about £22,000. |
The mayor of Llanidloes Phyl Davies said that was distorted by higher pay in the public sector. | The mayor of Llanidloes Phyl Davies said that was distorted by higher pay in the public sector. |
Mr Davies added people were struggling to get by in rural communities such as Llanidloes. | Mr Davies added people were struggling to get by in rural communities such as Llanidloes. |
"People look at mid Wales and they see a land full of sheep, cattle and they don't realise what's going on behind closed doors maybe," he said. | "People look at mid Wales and they see a land full of sheep, cattle and they don't realise what's going on behind closed doors maybe," he said. |
"There are people who are really struggling to make ends meet, and because of where we live people have to rely on owning a car and with the cost of fuel, the cost of tax, insurance, everything's going up. | "There are people who are really struggling to make ends meet, and because of where we live people have to rely on owning a car and with the cost of fuel, the cost of tax, insurance, everything's going up. |
"Everybody has to commute because there aren't the levels of employment there used to be in local towns." | "Everybody has to commute because there aren't the levels of employment there used to be in local towns." |