Prince's Countryside Fund open

The Prince's Countryside Fund is currently open for applications for grant funding.

The Prince’s Countryside Fund gives grants to projects that help support the people who care for the countryside.

Organisations and charities that are helping to protect and sustain Britain’s farming and rural communities can apply for funding of up to £50,000 until 8 October 2015, with £725,000 of funding available in this round.

Claire Saunders, Director of The Prince’s Countryside Fund, said:

 "Rural and farming communities are under immense pressure at the moment. We are looking for projects which will have a long-term positive impact to help sustain our rural areas and encourage enterprise that will help the people who care for our countryside and make it tick.

"Britain’s environment, security and prosperity depends on our countryside. Three quarters of British land is farmed, and agriculture is central to our landscape. It is crucial that we protect this priceless national asset and provide funding that supports the remarkable people working to create and sustain a vibrant rural economy."

Projects will be considered on their contribution to one of three key countryside issues:

1.Thriving Rural Communities - projects that provide innovative solutions to deliver assets and services that keep rural communities together and develop a more sustainable rural economy i.e. empowering communities to provide village services or create business hubs and employment for local people

2.Rural Livelihoods - projects that focus on developing stronger, more sustainable farm and rural enterprises with the aim of halting the decline of the rural economy i.e. providing rural businesses with support and advice or supporting farmer led initiatives

3.Farmers of the Future - projects that help improve skills and increase opportunities of taking up rural careers, in particular in farming, with the aim of helping people to remain within and contribute to the rural economy i.e. training opportunities and apprenticeship schemes that inspire and enable new entrants to consider a career in farming

You can contact a member of The Prince’s Countryside Fund team on 020 7566 8797 or email pcfapplication@bitc.org.uk to tell them about your project before going ahead with your application. They can talk to you about whether your project meets the Fund’s objectives and give guidance on what you need to do to make your application.

Visit the Prince's Countryside Fund website to find out more.

The fund will close for applications at 5pm on Thursday 8 October.