English Lack of capital and access to financial support is often cited as significant barrier to new entrants wanting to set up their own farming land-based enterprises, as well as existing landworkers looking to upscale and expand their businesses.
In light of this, in 2020 we created an LWA Guide to Fundraising for agroecological farming and land-based enterprises. The guide explores availability of finance options according to types of business legal structure, community shares, crowdfunding, fundraising from trusts and foundations, searching for grants, public funds and loans.
As a grassroots Union, we also have a Solidarity Pot to support our Members facing difficult circumstances, and help them bridge an urgent gap or to respond quickly to changing circumstances.
Landworking can come with lots of unexpected challenges. From cashflow issues to weather related problems, staff sickness to broken equipment, there are a number of things that can cause financial pressure. We want to support our members during these times to make sure that our local food and agroecological land use systems can keep growing.
We used income from membership fees, merchandise and events to create a Solidarity Pot to help support members facing challenging times, and thanks to generous donations the pot has been added to by members and LWA supporters.
The purpose of our Solidarity Pot is to help members bridge an urgent gap or to respond quickly to changing circumstances with a loan of up to £1000.
To find out more, donate to the pot or request support, please click yma.
Please be aware that we do not currently have capacity or resources to help individual members or potential members with specific projects, or offer any bespoke advice. We have, however, identified this as a gap in our work to support members, so please watch this space!
In the meantime please take the time to explore our staff page to see if your enquiry fits into a specific staff members’ role and email them directly.
However, if you require critical and urgent support please email info@landworkersalliance.org.uk and include URGENT in the subject header – we will try out best to respond promptly and offer help and advice where appropriate.
