BENEFITS OF MEMBERSHIP

A strong and committed membership is essential in enabling us to pursue our key charitable aims, which include:

• promoting the very best in research, development and practice;
• supporting innovation;
• encouraging education on rural issues;
• championing the social welfare of rural communities; and
• providing an independent voice for the agricultural industry.

These are exciting times for the Society. We will be continuing to strengthen the membership package and are working closely with commercial organisations and other agricultural societies to provide relevant visits, discounts and offers. By becoming a member of the Royal Agricultural Society of England, you will both support our charitable work in the fields of communication and education, and enjoy the exclusive benefits detailed below:

Supporting Education & Rural Life
£5 of each member’s subscription will directly benefit the Society’s charities, the Arthur Rank Centre (ARC) and Farming & Countryside Education (FACE), part of the Society’s commitment to support the countryside, farming and food.

Arthur Rank Centre
The ARC is a charity which supports the rural community and its churches; yet its programme of community and social work, resourcing and training makes a positive difference to the lives of many people, whatever their faith and wherever they live. Work includes Care Farming (farms and countryside providing physical, mental and social care), Arthur Rank Training (providing disadvantaged young people with skills for the workplace) and the Rural Stress Helpline (a confidential listening service for rural people in distress).
www.arthurrankcentre.org.uk

How your donation could help the ARC:
-£5 will provide a rural church with a community post office tool kit
-£10 will buy equipment to help a disadvantaged young person learn new skills for the workplace
-£15 will pay for our helpline operator to walk with a distressed caller until their problem is resolved

Farming & Countryside Education
FACE is the educational charity for food and farming. Their national team and regional educational co-ordinators work within all government regions in England and in Wales to reconnect children with where and how their food is produced. FACE work with pupils, teachers, parents, farmers and businesses to teach young people about the countryside and the numerous opportunities available to them for leisure and social activities, for learning experiences and for employment.
www.face-online.org.uk

Your contribution to FACE will help to:
-allow more children to visit farms to see how food is produced and the countryside is cared for
-train more farmers to host visits and to communicate their passion for food and farming
-inspire more teachers to put the countryside into the curriculum
-introduce the countryside to children from disadvantaged communities

Practice with Science

• Your subscription directly supports the RASE’s Practice with Science agenda and will enable us to launch studies, reports and consultations on key issues affecting farm efficiency, countryside management and farm communities
• Exclusive advance sight of the RASE’s publications such as Soils Report, New Blood, Green House Gas Emissions and others
• Free access to the Society’s Library, a national archive and treasure trove of agriculture and rural knowledge

Publications

• Weekly Agri-Bulletin Email, keeping you up to date about rural issues and Society activities
• Active Members Only area on website
• Quarterly communications, including technical papers from the Practice with Science Group, as well as journal papers, event information and of course any Society updates
• Annual Reviews for ARC and FACE
• RASE’s Annual Journal online, as well as a 50% discount when purchasing hard copy
• Discount subscription to ARC’s Country Way magazine

Events
Members qualify for discounts or special Member facilities to all live events, which currently include:

AgriLIVE Smithfield - bringing together the latest developments, products, services and advice in one place for the whole red meat supply chain, from farmer to retailer. www.agrilivesmithfield.co.uk

British Pig & Poultry Fair - giving producers from across the country a chance to meet up in a congenial environment where they can spend time discussing common interests and exchanging views on recent developments within the industry. www.pigandpoultryfair.org.uk  

Grassland & Muck - the biggest working machinery event in the UK. Visitors will have the chance to watch the latest machinery in action from all the leading manufacturers, with over 160 acres dedicated to machinery demonstrations. www.grasslandevent.co.uk

RASE Festival of the Horse - this new event will encompass all the classes which featured in the Royal Show but will also build in new attractions to make the Festival an all-encompassing equine extravaganza.

Plus:

• Discounted rates when entering prime stock at AgriLIVE Smithfield
• Discounted rates when entering horses at RASE Festival of the Horse
• Access to the exclusive RASE Members’ Area at all applicable events
• 50% discounted entry to our Regional Events, Conferences and Seminars

Web Community
Dedicated areas on RASE website for the rural community in general and individual members in particular, allowing:

• Communication with other members via forums
• Space to share views via blogs and uploaded video clips
• View latest news and comment from the Society, industry experts and commentators
• Special offers on travel, merchandise, clothing etc through partner organisations and businesses

Stoneleigh Park

• Discounts off venue hire at Stoneleigh Park * 
• Special rates on accommodation at Stoneleigh Park Lodge and Blackdown Village *
• Discounts and special offers on some non-RASE events held at Stoneleigh Park throughout the year

* For reservations and enquiries, please contact Stoneleigh Park on 0870 720 7575 or visit www.stoneleighpark.com for more information. Terms & Conditions apply, see website for full details.

Awards
The Society recognises innovation and excellence in agriculture through its prestigious awards.

• RASE awards will continue
• Some new awards may be introduced
• Members may apply for one Long Service Award free of charge in any three year period

For more information about Membership of the Royal Agricultural Society of England or to become a Member, please telephone 02476 858303, email membership@rase.org.uk or become a Member on-line now.