HELP AND support for people in agriculture and their dependants is just a phonecall away with the launch of an expanded helpline service from RSABI, Scotland's unique rural charity.
Launching the upgrade, which will make the crisis helpline available from 7am till 11pm, RSABI chief executive, Nina Clancy said: "RSABI's new, single helpline is for anyone, whatever their age or circumstances, who has worked on Scotland's land and needs a helping hand. Just ask, we do more than you think.
"Every year, we work with hundreds of people with backgrounds in farming, working or retired, as well as their dependants, who have questions about what they might be entitled to or find they are struggling to cope for some reason.
"We deal with a much wider range of problems than you might think, including the benefits system, mental health issues, business and financial trouble. If we cannot help directly, we will know someone who can.
"Scotland's rural community is rightly proud of its immensely successful record of hard work in tough circumstances, and the fear about losing pride can discourage many of those whom we could help from getting in touch," added Mc Clancy. "All our calls our confidential and people often tell us how relieved they are to get things off their chest and to find that there is a solution.
"With our new helpline we hope to build up a bigger picture of the problems people have across rural Scotland," she added. "Last year we helped over 500 people with financial grants.These were people who lifted up the phone and contacted us.There are many more out there who are too proud to ask for help. We want those people not to hesitate in calling on our help."
The new helpline - 0300 111 4166 - which is run out of hours with help from Farm Community Network, is now open every day of the year from 7am to 11pm and provides a single point of enquiry handling everything from questions about the benefits system and sources of help on farming issues, to delivering support on critical personal matters, including money troubles and emotional distress.
It will also act as an entry point to RSABI for anyone that may require financial assistance.
RSABI - formerly the Royal Scottish Agricultural Benevolent Institute - has roots going back to 1897, focussed on providing financial assistance and support in confidence to those people who have worked in Scotland in land-based occupations and who are suffering hardship.
Every year RSABI helps hundreds of people with backgrounds in farming, forestry, fish-farming, rural estate work, gamekeeping, crofting and horticulture who, owing to illness, disability, poverty or crisis, find that they are unable to cope.
- For in-depth news and views on Scottish agriculture, see this Friday's issue of The Scottish Farmer or visit www.thescottishfarmer.co.uk
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