Aims/priorities: The Prince’s Countryside Fund (PCF) exists to support thriving rural communities with farming at their heart. The Fund is supported by the People's Postcode Lottery and the NFU Mutual Charitable Trust. The funding is intended to support innovative projects across the UK that will provide a lasting legacy to the individuals and communities they seek to benefit.
The funding is for projects that address either of the following programmes:
Supporting Rural Communities – funding for community-led projects that are pursuing innovative and strategic solutions to the challenges facing their rural area and which and which will improve the long-term viability and resilience of their community and replicable for other rural communities too. Successful projects will do one or more of the following:
- Support people to resolve existing and emerging community issues, circumstances, and priorities.
- Build rural community resilience.
- Develop innovative and replicable projects.
- Enable leadership and community planning.
Project Village Survival – funding for projects that will do one or more of the following:
- Protect or boost community assets and enterprises.
- Reinvigorate service provision.
- Strengthen the sense of community, therefore tackling isolation in the countryside.
Who can apply? Applications will be accepted from properly constituted, community-led organisations with a turnover under £500,000 per year, who can demonstrate how beneficiaries will be drawn from the local community.
Grant amount: The following grants are available:
- Grants of up to £25,000 over two years to support rural communities. Projects must be completed by 31 March 2024.
- Grants of up to £10,000 over one year for project village survival. Projects must be completed by 31 March 2023.
All grants under £8,000 will be paid up front in one instalment. Grants of more than this will be paid in two instalments.
Application process: The guidelines, short eligibility quiz, and application form are available from the Prince’s Countryside Fund website during the application window.
Before starting their application, groups are advised to read the application guidance and FAQs which can be found on the PCF website.
From 9 August to 15 September, PCF will be holding PCF grant application surgeries every Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday (14:00 to 15:00). All appointment will be 15 minutes long and need to be booked by sending an email to grants@countrysidefund.org.uk.
Deadline: 17 September 2021 (midday).
Contact information: Email grants@countrysidefund.org.uk
Website address: princescountrysidefund.org.uk