Addington Fund

The Addington Fund is an independent UK charity established in 2001 in response to the classical swine fever and foot-and-mouth outbreaks, dedicated to sustaining the vibrancy of rural and farming communities across England and Wales. Its mission centers on rural regeneration amid social and economic deprivation, delivering practical solutions like affordable retirement housing for older farmers, accessible rental homes for new entrants and rural workers, and rapid emergency relief during agricultural crises such as disease outbreaks or adverse weather. Sustained by rental income from its property portfolio, the Fund emphasizes direct operational delivery—rather than grants to other charities—prioritizing tangible support to preserve farming livelihoods and community ties, with values rooted in agricultural realities, efficiency, and long-term stewardship.

It funds targeted programmes including the New Entrant Scheme for 18-40-year-olds starting farming careers (with business plans and financials required), Emergency Relief like Dry Weather Grants for feed and essentials, and the George Stephens Trust for modest household goods grants to low-income farmworkers and retirees. Beneficiaries are primarily individuals and families in agriculture—farmers, workers, and those facing retirement or hardship—focusing on housing security, crisis response, and poverty alleviation to enable rural retention.

Eligible applicants are individuals or farm businesses in England and Wales (no organisational grants or income limits); applications via online forms are unsolicited and rolling, with New Entrant funding first-come, first-served until pots exhaust (open as of November 2025). Typical grants range up to £3,000 for entrants/emergencies and £600-£1,000 for household items, assessed on need, viability, and innovation.

Distinctively, it avoids substituting statutory housing or core organisational funding, differentiating through property-owned housing solutions, immediate crisis logistics, and ties to Farming Help UK, ensuring enduring impact for those at risk of rural exclusion.