The Prince’s Countryside Fund awards funding to 62 community-led projects benefitting people living and working in rural areas 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.

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.

Gaby Ciacchino from Curious Pilgrims, 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 we’re carrying out with our community, assisting us in providing an indispensable service.”

Phil Price, Director of SCRVSG in Yorkshire, said, “The Snaith, Cowick and Rawcliffe army of volunteers supporting our displaced, vulnerable and self-isolated residents in the wake of recent flooding and the current Covid-19 pandemic are truly thankful for the support of The Prince’s Countryside Fund. Your emergency grant will enable us to provide some of the basic essentials and extended community care that will help restore faith, confidence and normality among the strugglers in our rural communities. Thank you.”

Cheryl Marriott, Chair of the Blackwater Village Trust in Cornwall, said: “As a small community charity, we are hugely grateful to The Prince’s Countryside Fund for awarding this grant towards the Blackwater Village Covid-19 Hardship fund. We already have a volunteer network helping with food deliveries and errands, and now we can begin to help those having difficulty making ends meet by offering grocery vouchers.”

Announcing the grant recipients, Claire Saunders, Director of The Prince’s Countryside Fund, 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.”

To find out more, visit the Fund’s website at www.princescountrysidefund.org.uk.