Councils to share £5m in emergency food aid as farming families tap £2,000 drought grants

From the Newshound archive · first published 19 September 2026.

Local councils are set to divide £5m in emergency food aid to help residents cope with rising living costs, as rural charity RABI continues to offer £2,000 emergency grants to farming families in Hertfordshire, Hampshire and across the South East struggling with the ongoing drought.

The £5m fund will give every council around £200,000 in emergency food aid to help residents facing pressure from rising living costs.

Farming families across multiple counties including Hampshire and Hertfordshire can still apply for RABI's £2,000 drought grants, targeting households whose incomes have been hit by prolonged dry conditions.