Rural projects which help improve the prospects of farm businesses are among those who could win a grant worth up to £50,000.
The Prince’s Countryside Fund is open for grant applications from January 9th until February 21st 2019, and projects could win a slice of the £300,000 available.
The charity gives out grants twice a year, and projects in rural areas across the UK can apply for funding of up to £50,000 in the spring round of funding.
Set up in 2010 by Prince Charles, the charity aims to improve the prospects of viability for rural communities and farm businesses.
Every year the Fund gives out over £1 million in funding, and can support projects for up to three years.
The Fund aims to support projects that sustain rural communities, improve the prospects of viability for farm and rural businesses and support aid delivery in emergency and build resilience.
In particular, the charity is looking at projects that focus on developing stronger, more sustainable farm businesses and other rural enterprises with the aim of halting the decline of the rural economy, or that encourage local food production and short supply chains.
Claire Saunders, Director of the Fund said: “The 550 projects put forward to our Recharging Rural research last summer demonstrated the extraordinary breadth of ideas that communities use to build their resilience, many of which are grant can support.
“Our grants help to support a diverse range of projects often delivered by local organisations, such as training vouchers for young farmers, equipment for local abattoirs, overheads and staffing costs for farmer led networks, village shops and pubs, and development schemes for rural businesses.”
The Fund is particularly keen to hear from projects in the north east of England, and from all parts of rural Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland, but all projects that meet eligibility criteria will be considered.
