Prince's Countryside Fund support for rural projects

Fourteen projects across the UK have been awarded a share of more than £300,000 in the latest round of funding from the Prince's Countryside Fund.

The Prince’s Countryside Fund provides more than £1 million in grants each year to projects across the UK. They have grants of up to £50,000 available for innovative projects that will provide a lasting legacy to the individuals and communities they seek to benefit.Two Scottish projects are among those to receive grants in the latest funding round.

The Kilfinan Community Forest Youth Skills Development Programme will provide training and work experience to 14-18 year-olds in rural Argyll. The grant will give young people the chance to learn about forestry, environmental work and agriculture during a four-week course that also provides them with accredited training. Activities include management of invasive species, fencing and access, organic growing, fish farming operations, woodworking and upland sheep farming. The course runs for four weeks during the summer, offers up to six participants a modest bursary and provides them with certificates from the John Muir Trust and in Emergency First Aid.

The Skye and Lochalsh Micro Abattoir will use their grant to Deliver wide ranging benefits from a community owned and operated abattoir facility including but not limited to: produce traceability, slaughter facilitates, economic impact, employment and rural regeneration.

A grant has also been awarded to support the development of a team to deliver the "Minding your Business" training programme for the Institute of Agriculture Secretaries & Administrators (IAgSA) across England, Wales and Scotland. Workshops will be targeted at family farming businesses in the poorer rural areas, who are often termed as “hard to reach”. The aim of these workshops will be to enable participants to update and improve their skills and knowledge base to ensure a better understanding of farm book-keeping procedures. It also gives an opportunity to review current systems in preparation for future HMRC requirements in Making VAT Digital.

Visit the Prince's Countryside Fund for a full list of grants awarded.

The Fund will open again for grant applications in January 2019. Visit the Prince's Countryside Fund website to find out more.