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Wilfred Emmanuel-Jones aka The Black Farmer is calling inner city dwellers with a hankering to try the rural life to apply for his City Farmers scheme. Rural campaigner and food entrepreneur, Emmanuel-Jones, today launched his unique farming scheme in conjunction with the Royal Agricultural College Cirencester. In an effort to get more urbanites involved in rural Britain he is searching for 12 young people to give them an opportunity of a lifetime.

Arguably the country's only black Afro-Caribbean farmer, Emmanuel-Jones has made a name for himself as a person who integrates rural and urban Britain. He passionately believes that city dwellers have a lot to offer hard-pressed rural Britain.

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"As a 12 year old boy I dreamed of owning my own farm. The only greenery I ever saw was on my father's small allotment. I was desperate to be part of rural Britain but as a youth growing up in deprived inner city Birmingham there was nowhere I could go to make my dreams come true," says Emmanuel-Jones.

He continues: "There are large numbers of young people floundering in the inner cities because they feel trapped, when in fact, living and working in a rural environment would better suit their natures. It is disappointing that there is nowhere for them to go to experience the rural way of life."

As a person who left school without any qualification and was written off as someone who would end up on society's dustbin heap, Emmanuel-Jones knows only too well how opportunity can change a person's life. The only qualification he is demanding is that the entrants have the ability to demonstrate how taking part in this scheme will help change their lives and show that they have a passion for working and living in rural Britain. Successful applicants will take part free of charge.

This year, the scheme not only gives participants practical experience of land-based work, but incorporates the theme of 'Field to Plate', where participants will also learn how to prepare and cook food, and of course taste it.

With little or no experience of the countryside, participants will need to be excited by the opportunity to learn rural skills and willing to face challenges in a countryside environment. Participants will have the drive to share new activities, work as part of a team and explore the opportunities that the food and farming industries have to offer. They will further their rural skills and experiences in view of their future career or educational progression.

The programme will run over three weeks and will start on Monday 14th July 2008. It will be based at the Royal Agricultural College in Cirencester, Gloucestershire. Successful applicants will be fully sponsored by the Royal Agricultural College and the CLA Charitable Trust.

Find entry details on http://www.theblackfarmer.com/scholarship.htm Closing date for entries 23 May 2008. For further information or interview please contact Michaela Pain 020 7 978 4132 or michaela@theblackfarmer.com

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