Supporters of Scottish rural charity RSABI have helped raise nearly a quarter of a million pounds in the past 12 months.
The charity, which provides financial assistance to those who have relied on the land in Scotland, said more than £230,000 had been raised in the past year for its ‘Help us help them’ campaign.
The total sum, which by far exceeds the target of £150,000, was revealed at an industry gala dinner supported by the Royal Bank of Scotland at its Gogarburn premises near Edinburgh last month.
The event, which raised £24,000 for the campaign, featured a charity auction and celebrity speakers.
It was held to round off a year of fundraising activities including the RSABI Great Glen Challenge, golf and clay shoot fundraisers across the country, and an epic tractor journey around the north coast of Scotland.
RSABI development manager, Paul Tinson, said: “We were absolutely thrilled when we found out we had significantly surpassed our target for the Help us help them campaign with the support of the Royal Bank of Scotland at Gogarburn. For many people in the farming community, it’s been a hard year and so it’s really fantastic to witness so many individual, business and corporate supporters helping RSABI to exceed our target.”
RSABI runs a telephone helpline service which offers the farming and land-based community a stress-support service. The dedicated number is 0300 111 4166 and lines are open from 7am to 11pm, Monday to Friday.