The ARC-Addington Fund

Excerpts from letters received

“Tom and I would like to thank you and ARC Addington for the kindness and non-judgemental generosity shown to us. It has not only helped us, but changed our lives. Tom had been getting increasingly taciturn and depressed month by month. We were both frightened of the future - an emotion that was very opposite to our usual optimistic ‘get on with it’ attitude. We now feel hopeful and can see that we do have a future.“

“Fred and I thank you all at Addington for your help and kind assistance. Without it he would have struggled on fruitlessly, for years perhaps, seeing no light at the end of the tunnel so to speak, and having no alternative but deeper debt and depression while ironically working longer and harder than ever. The Addington Fund has changed our lives. Thank you.“

Mr and Mrs W are in their late twenties. They have three young children. Their hill farm was not making money and both were working off farm to stay afloat. When Mr W was offered more work, he realised that giving up the farm was inevitable. Housing them within their community has not only ensured their stability, but had the additional benefit of keeping the primary school numbers buoyant.

Mr and Mrs T are in their forties. Farming a council-owned farm where dairying was specified, but with a parlour built for twenty-five cows, they could not go on. Mr W is in demand as a relief milker. They have put over £50k into their house and will almost certainly contribute more over the years.

“I want you to know that we have been living here for six months now, and they have been the happiest and most settled six months that we have experienced as a family for many years - thank you.“

Mr and Mrs R are in their late fifties.  They have farmed well all their lives, but realised their off-farm income was being swallowed up by the business.  They had to leave, had some money to buy a house, but not the full amount.  They were in no position to get a mortgage.  A bank loan would have been risky if their final farm sale had not lived up to expectations.  They found a house – the Fund contributed half the purchase price and charged interest on the loan.  When their assets were realised they were able to buy out the Fund’s contribution.  If the farm sale had not met expectations, the loan could have been converted to a rent on the shortfall.  Providing such a ‘safety net’ is, we believe, unique to the Fund.