The Prince’s Countryside Fund awards emergency grants
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The Prince’s Countryside Fund has awarded over £120,000 of funding to 62 community-led projects dealing with the impact of Covid-19 across the UK.
The successful applicants are tackling Covid-19 in a number of ways – from grocery, hot meal, and prescription delivery in remote areas, to setting up community shops and food banks, or providing business support tailored for rural and farm businesses.
Scottish projects which have received support include Rannoch Community Trust, Uig Community Shop, Interloch Transport, Morebattle Community Shop, Western Isles Citizens Advice Service, New Galloway Community Enterprises, Islay and Jura Community Enterprises, Curious Pilgrims, Raasay House Community Company and The Furniture Project (Stranraer).
The Fund received nearly 300 applications for assistance, and thanks to players of People’s Postcode Lottery, the Royal Warrant Holders Association Charitable Trust, the Barbour Foundation, and the generosity of its own corporate partners, were able to release £120,963 in funding to 62 projects, benefitting people living and working in rural areas.
The Fund has also awarded the Farming Community Network over £6000 to allow them to increase their helpline provision.
Founded by HRH The Prince of Wales in 2010, the Fund’s mission is to help ensure a vibrant rural economy with a thriving and resilient farming sector at its heart, and its grant programme is a major focus of activity to achieve this.
The Prince’s Countryside Fund awards grants to local organisations, and since 2010 has distributed over £10 million in funding.
Curious Pilgrims' Gaby Ciacchino, who has organised a prescription collection service for residents of Shetland, said: "Curious Pilgrims is delighted to have been awarded an emergency grant from The Prince’s Countryside Fund.
"This will make a substantial contribution to the work the we’re carrying out with our community, assisting us in providing an indispensable service.”
Announcing the grant recipients Claire Saunders said: “These small rural organisations are the lifeblood of many far-flung communities.
"They have adapted to provide unprecedented support to rural people, quickly, and efficiently, with the help of a dedicated army of local volunteers.
"We are so grateful to all our sponsors, who by supporting The Prince’s Countryside Fund, have enabled the provision of these Rural Response Emergency Grants during this crisis.”
More details can be found at www.princescountryside.fund.org.uk/grants.
