Grants worth up to £1,500 are being offered by the Royal Agricultural Benevolent Institution (Rabi) to help farming families faced with soaring energy bills.
Farmers across England and Wales can apply to the farming charity for support towards home-related energy costs, such as energy bills or for making home energy efficiency improvements.
With gas and electricity prices rising by more than 50% on 1 April, research from National Energy Action (NEA) indicates that 6.5m households across the UK will be in fuel poverty, up more than 2m from just six months ago.
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Rabi’s director of services, Caron Whaley, said NEA research had highlighted links between fuel poverty and wider mental health issues.
The charity’s own Big Farming Survey has shown there are already high levels of poor mental health within the farming sector.
“People facing immediate financial hardship in relation to fuel cost increases can apply for grants of up to £1,500 towards bill payments or making homes more energy efficient,” said Ms Whaley.
“We should all be able to stay warm at home, however many people are increasingly having to choose whether to heat their home, feed the family or pay the rent.”
Grants available now
The grants are available now and can be used towards home heating costs and energy efficiency measures, such boiler servicing, installing water tank jackets, addressing lagging for pipes, or installing loft insulation.
Applications can be made by calling Rabi’s 24-hour helpline on 0800 188 4444. Charitable payments will be means tested against disposable income to ensure the funding is fairly distributed.
