Carlisle-based H&H Group has chosen Cumbria and Lancashire charity Growing Well, the Royal Agricultural Benevolent Institution (RABI) and the Royal Scottish Agricultural Benevolent Institution (RSABI), to support through a range of fundraising initiatives
The three charities which focus on mental health support to rural communities have been chosen to benefit from a year of fundraising by staff throughout the H&H Group of companies, across the North of England and Scottish Borders.
Staff were invited to nominate their choice of a national and regional charity and collectively chose to support the RABI and the RSABI. The charities provide mental health support and guidance, practical care and financial support to those facing adversity within the farming community.
Growing Well was selected as the firm’s chosen regional charity. The community enterprise helps hundreds of people across the North West to overcome mental health problems through therapeutic horticultural activities at their three organic kitchen gardens at Kendal, Tebay, and Egremont.
During the next 12 months, each charity will receive support from staff across the H&H Group, including Harrison & Hetherington, H&H Insurance Brokers, H&H Reeds, H&H Land & Estates, and H&H Auction Rooms.
The programme of fundraising events kicks off with a team cycling 100km in the Northumberland’s Wooler Wheel sportive, followed by an inter-company rounders tournament, participation in Gelt Gladiator, a Hadrian’s Wall walk, and a summer Charity Ball.
H&H Group chief executive Richard Rankin said: “All our companies and our people are rooted in rural business and rural life, and the charities they have chosen to support this year are close to our hearts.
“As we continue to champion mental health, raising awareness in the rural sector, it’s no coincidence these charities have a strong bias to mental health support.
“RABI and RSABI are the principal charities focused on supporting members of the farming community facing difficulties, and their work is absolutely crucial, particularly in the current circumstances when farmers and their families are struggling with unprecedented challenges.
“Growing Well is a wonderful example of lateral thinking that has created a new model for mental health care combining therapy and horticulture, which is something many of us with gardens should be able to relate to.”
Richard will join the group’s other managing directors in using their paid annual volunteering day to help at Kendal’s Growing Well garden in May, with other dates planned for interested staff who wish to use their volunteer day for the charity.
Richard said: “Over the past two years, our people raised a fantastic total of over £34,500 for our selected charities. This time I feel we have chosen causes that will inspire everybody, enabling us to raise the bar and make an even greater contribution to RABI, RSABI and Growing Well.”
Rebecca Batstone, partnerships manager for Growing Well said: “Growing Well are absolutely delighted to be chosen as the regional charity to receive the support of H&H staff this year.
“We have faced a huge increase in demand for our mental health service, which we are aiming to meet through expanding our sites from one to three.
“We know that being outdoors, engaged in practical, meaningful activity is good for everyone’s mental health recovery and this valuable support from H&H will allow us to continue to deliver our services free of charge to those who need us most.”
Paul Pirie, head of fundraising at RABI said: “We’re delighted that H&H Group and its staff have chosen to support RABI through their fundraising initiatives this year and are hugely grateful for their commitment to helping farming people.
“The money raised will play a vital role in enabling RABI to continue providing guidance, practical care, and financial support to those in need within the farming community across England and Wales.”
