The Prince’s Countryside Fund has awarded £400,000 of funding to 12 community-led projects.

The latest grants – which will benefit people living and working in rural areas – bring to more than £9m the amount distributed since the fund was established in 2010.

Ensuring a vibrant rural economy with a thriving and resilient farming sector at its heart is the fund’s mission – and its grant programme is a major focus to achieve this.

The diverse range of projects that have been awarded grant funding will create locally-delivered solutions to the challenges facing rural areas.

They include improving the prospects for farm businesses, to sustaining communities through the reintroduction of essential services, to driving economic vibrancy.
Fund director Claire Saunders said: “The applications we received for this round of funding demonstrate the breadth of challenges faced by those living in rural areas.

Praising recipient organisations for working together, Ms Saunders added: “We are delighted to be able to help projects that will make a real difference in rural areas.”

Recipients of new grants to support rural communities include:

* Bay Search and Rescue, Cumbria
* Brecknock Federation of Young Farmers Clubs, Powys
* Cothrom, Outer Hebrides
* Cheriton Fitzpaine Community Shop, Devon
* Farmborough Community Shop, Somerset
* The Farmer Network (two grants awarded), Cumbria and Northumberland
* The Farming Life Centre, Derbyshire
* North Devon +, Devon
* Northumberland Community Development Company, Northumberland
* North Ronaldsay Trust, North Ronaldsay
* Roadwater Village Community Shop Ltd, Somerset

Full details of projects awarded grants in this round of funding are available here.

Ms Saunders said: The Prince’s Countryside Fund is committed to improving the quality of life for people living and working in our great British countryside.”

The fund will be next open for grant applications from 30 April to 14 June.

More details can be found at www.princescountryside.fund.org.uk/grants.

Additional funding is available outside of this period for community projects aimed at reducing isolation in deprived rural areas through the Rural Four project.