£500,000 awarded by NFU Mutual Charitable Trust in 2024

This marks the first of two funding rounds planned for the year, with the Trust aiming to reach a total of at least £1m in donations by the end of 2024.

The current contributions will back various projects, including efforts to lessen rural poverty, support small farming enterprises, offer education and mentoring for young people, and promote mental health.

Beneficiaries of this funding include the Addington Fund, Farms for City Children, NFU Education, RSABI, and the Oxford Farming Conference, along with the Nuffield Farming Scholarships Trust, the Gareth Raw Rees Memorial Scholarship, and the Wales Federation of Young Farmers' Clubs.

The funding is available immediately, enabling these organisations to sustain their essential support services.

Jim McLaren MBE, chairman of the NFU Mutual Charitable Trust, commented: “NFU Mutual is committed to making a positive impact for our members and wider society through our charitable giving programme. We are very proud to be championing the work of these great causes through the NFU Mutual Charitable Trust.”

The Royal Countryside Fund, which helps family farms succeed, will use its £75,000 grant to enhance Farm Support Groups and ensure they continue to deliver crucial services to their communities.

Keith Halstead, executive director of the Royal Countryside Fund, shared the impact of the donation: “We will be able to increase the capacity of groups within the network to deliver more vital services and support to those in need.

"We would like to say a huge thank you to the NFU Mutual Charitable Trust for helping us provide this crucial support that so many within farming communities depend on.”

The NFU Mutual Charitable Trust is a key channel for charitable contributions from NFU Mutual, the UK’s leading rural insurer.

This initiative is part of NFU Mutual’s £3.25m charitable giving commitment for 2024, aimed at supporting its members and their communities.