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October 1, 2025

Bringing together rural community organisations from across Cumbria and Northumberland

The event, held at the Rheged Centre in Cumbria, was designed to allow these organisations from across the two counties to feedback on their work so far and find new ways to work together.

In February 2025, the RCF announced that it would be providing £387,000 of funding to 16 rural communities across Cumbria and Northumberland, in partnership with The National Lottery Community Fund. This funding is part of the RCF’s first county-based programme, targeting rural organisations which have the potential to ‘power up, not prop up’ their communities.

During the morning session, attendees worked through a series of workshop activities to provide detailed feedback on their experiences so far this year, outline the challenges they’ve faced, and ultimately drive the future of the RCF’s support in Cumbria and Northumberland.

In the afternoon, attendees gathered to hear from Cumbria’s Vice Lord-Lieutenant, Lord Inglewood, and receive progress reports from several of those present.

Lynn Barnes, Director of Vista Veg, spoke about the impact of the funding the organisation has received and how trainee food growers have benefited from the programme.

Ryan Dobson, Nature Reserve Manager, and Belinda Lloyd, Habitats and Estates Team Leader, at Watchtree Nature Reserve, spoke about the powerful impact of their project on the local community and the benefits it provides, particularly to those with accessibility requirements.

Finally, Belinda Fairbairn, Project Development Manager at NICRE (National Innovation Centre for Rural Enterprise), gave an update on the RCF’s ongoing project to build the capacity of rural community organisations in Northumberland, particularly in harder-to-reach areas.

Speaking after the event, Keith Halstead, Executive Director, RCF, said: “The place-based support we are providing in Cumbria and Northumberland is all about working with community-led organisations made up of local people who understand their local conditions and can find solutions that are right for them. It was very inspiring for the RCF to use its convening power to bring together individuals from these organisations to hear how much work has been done so far this year and all the people who have benefitted from these projects.

“Running face-to-face events like this is also an important part of the RCF’s role and a crucial way for us to measure our charitable impact. It’s fantastic to see that our joint funding programme with The National Lottery Community Fund is working to help these groups deliver their vital day-to-day work, but also to make new connections and build their capacity for the years to come.

“We’re incredibly grateful to The National Lottery Community Fund for their support in this new partnership and we want to extend our thanks to National Lottery players, for helping to fund these amazing community-led projects in rural areas across the two counties.”

Following the event at Rheged, some of the RCF team travelled to the ‘Sunny Bank’ market garden, which has been created by Vista Veg over the course of this year.

In February 2025, Vista Veg was awarded £29,960 by the RCF. As well as funding the creation of the Sunny Bank market garden, the RCF support has allowed Vista Veg to deliver training for new entrant food growers, organise community open days and school visits.

During the visit, the RCF team met with some of Vista Veg’s trainee growers, which was a great opportunity to hear firsthand from people who have benefitted from the RCF’s funding.

Find out more about the RCF’s work with rural communities here.

September 18, 2025

We’ve awarded £194,538 to power up rural communities across the UK

Image: The team from the River Waveney Trust build ‘flow deflectors’ to help kick-start natural re-meandering, keeping water oxygenated and gravels clean.

This new funding is aimed at empowering rural communities to develop community-led solutions that increase their resilience and sustainability, unlocking the huge potential for positive change in the countryside. The funding programme was aimed at innovative solutions that “power up, not prop up” communities, inspiring change and encouraging economic vibrancy.

Organisations could apply for grants of up to £25,000 over a period of 24 months to deliver activities around four key funding themes, which are crucial to the survival of rural communities: keeping young people in the countryside, powering up rural communities, increasing environmental sustainability, and building emergency resilience in rural areas.

The RCF has now announced the eight rural community organisations which will receive funding over the next two years, which are:

  • River Waveney Trust, an environmental charity based in East Anglia, dedicated to improving and protecting the River Waveney, its tributaries and catchment, making it a better place for people and wildlife, has been awarded £25,000. The funds will go towards projects supporting small, rural communities to build meaningful resilience in the face of future flooding emergencies, within a changing yet more sustainable environment.
  • Torridon District Community Association, a community charity based in the North West Highlands of Scotland, has been awarded £25,000. This funding will allow the charity to support the small rural community to prepare for various area-wide emergencies, making the community more resilient, better connected and more prepared to deal the impacts of climate change.
  • Grow the Glens CIC, which has worked since 2016 to create jobs and opportunities within its local community in the Glens of Antrim, in Northern Ireland, has been awarded £25,000. This funding will enable Grow the Glens to develop and extend its social enterprise programme to the local area, delivering a range of courses, workshops and events for the local community.
  • LandLinked CIC, a Welsh community interest company working at the intersection of people, land, and learning, has been awarded £24,690. The funding will support training for young people in North Wales, helping them to build practical, regenerative land management skills.
  • Lochview Rural Training Centre, a Sutherland-based charity and social enterprise which works to promote, organise and deliver rural learning, training and career opportunities, has been awarded £24,848. The funding will support work in the North Highlands, ensuring that local people are able to access the support and training they need to reach their full potential, and allowing the organisation to develop its intergenerational work, matching tech-savvy young people with experienced crofters for an exchange of skills and knowledge.
  • North Norfolk Community Transport, a charity which supports people who live in rural areas to overcome huge barriers over access to transport, both in affordability and availability, has been awarded £25,000. This grant will help the organisation support more disabled members of the community and those with limited mobility to reach the people and places they need to reach.
  • Ventnor Exchange, a community interest company, which works to develop the creative potential of young people on the Isle of Wight, has been awarded £20,000. The funding will support the development of a bespoke education and training programme for young people, providing employment and learning opportunities.
  • Ynni Bro Rhian , a newly established community benefit society, based in North-West Pembrokeshire, has been awarded £25,000. The organisation aims to help the local rural community by establishing and supporting enduring renewable energy projects. The funding will allow the society to appoint a part-time Project Development & Community Engagement Officer and establish an Energy Local Club, aiming to offer financial benefits to local residents, and renewable energy generators.

Keith Halstead, Executive Director, RCF, said: “With these latest grants, we want to power up rural communities across the whole of the UK – from the Isle of Wight to the Scottish Highlands, and from Northern Ireland to North Norfolk. We received so many excellent applications, which is a testament both to the incredible untapped potential and energy of our rural communities, but also to the urgent need for more support.

“As with all our funding, we have chosen projects which are community-led and run by local people who understand the challenges and opportunities we face. We want to combine their local knowledge and passion with our funding and support, to deliver real and lasting change together. We’re also excited to welcome them into our Confident Rural Communities Network, which brings together organisations from across the UK to share ideas, resources and inspire one another.

“As we mark our 15th anniversary, we’re very grateful to our many supporters, partners, funders and everyone else who has supported the RCF over the years. To date, we’ve invested more than £12 million in over 500 rural community-led projects, and we are excited to continue to deliver change that positively impacts the everyday lives of people across the UK for generations to come.”

Edward King, Catchment Resilience Officer at the River Waveney Trust, said: “The RCF funding will enable us to greatly enhance the quality and reach of our provision as a trusted, local ‘flood-hub’, facilitating local people to lead on building community resilience in the face of future emergencies. The funding will also allow us to develop and deliver Natural Flood Management measures with and within small, rural communities to build more sustainable landscapes in the face of a changing climate.

“Many of our small, rural communities were deeply traumatised by the flooding in 2020 and 2023, and the funding from the Royal Countryside Fund will directly benefit these communities by supporting a more resilient and sustainable future, delivering meaningful results on the ground.”

July 25, 2025

Celebrating community at the Royal Welsh Show

On Monday 21st July, the RCF team attended the Marks and Spencer Select Farm Awards, where Keith Halstead presented the Royal Countryside Fund Family Farm Award to the Roderick Family, from Brecon. The award, which is run by the RCF’s longstanding partner, M&S, celebrates family farms that show an exceptional commitment to good animal welfare, sustainable practices and future generations — all while helping keep rural communities thriving.

At Newton Farm, Richard Roderick and his family (with son Tudor pictured above) run two well-managed sheep flocks and a 100-head Stabiliser suckler herd, supplying beef and lamb to M&S through Dunbia. The Rodericks stand out for their hands-on approach to animal care, thoughtful breeding choices, and the calm, well-handled livestock they raise in the heart of rural Wales.

Importantly, the Roderick story is about succession done right: Richard’s son Tudor is now fully involved in day-to-day flock management — proving that when family farms thrive, so do rural jobs, skills and communities.

Richard Roderick said: “For us, it’s simple — if you look after your animals and your land properly, they look after you in return. We’re proud to keep that approach alive as a family and it means a lot to have it recognised by M&S and the Royal Countryside Fund.”

Keith Halstead, Executive Director, The Royal Countryside Fund, said: “We’re delighted to see the Roderick family recognised with this award. They’re leading a way of farming that puts careful stewardship at its heart whilst inspiring confidence in the next generation, which reflects the very vision and hope we have at The Royal Countryside Fund for thriving family farms.

“As we celebrate our 15th anniversary, we’re also incredibly grateful to M&S, which has supported our charity since 2010, demonstrating their continuing commitment to our partnership and to the resilience of Britain’s farming families.”

Steve McLean, Head of Agriculture and Fisheries at M&S, said: “The Roderick family are exactly what British farming is all about: skilled, dedicated and deeply rooted in their community. They care for their animals the right way, they think long-term, and they’re passing that knowledge on to the next generation — which is vital for the future of UK food and farming.”

At the show, the RCF team caught up with old contacts and made new ones, as they spoke with a wide range of individuals and organisations who work to support rural and farming communities across Wales.

We also spoke with successful rural community organisations, which we have previously funded, including Black Mountains College and The National Hedgelaying Society – the charity dedicated to promoting and preserving the traditional craft of hedgelaying.

As always, the Royal Welsh Show provided a valuable opportunity to hear directly from Welsh farmers about their concerns and hopes for the future. We also spoke with a wide range of farm support organisations, including Tir Dewi and Monmouthshire Rural Support Centre, as well as the teams from NFU Mutual, FUW, RABI, Yellow Wellies, The Farming Community Network, and the Nature Friendly Farming Network.

The RCF team would like to extend their heartfelt thanks to everyone who gave us such a warm welcome at the show.

July 22, 2025

The Royal Countryside Fund marks 15 years of support for the people of the countryside

The charity was founded in 2010 as The Prince’s Countryside Fund, by His Majesty King Charles III, then The Prince of Wales, after a visit to a Cumbrian hill farm where he met with a group of farmers, who were still dealing with the aftermath of the foot-and-mouth crisis. Since then, the charity has continued to adapt and grow, supporting rural communities through devastating flooding, Covid-19, and periods of deep uncertainty.

Through its place-based farming programmes, covering topics such as succession planning, benchmarking, biodiversity and soil health, the RCF is currently helping farming families discover achievable ways to build more financially and environmentally resilient farms now, and for generations to come. The charity also empowers rural communities – combining their ideas with funding and guidance – to grow community-led projects that will stand the test of time.

Later this year, the RCF is set to announce new support for family farmers in the form of its ‘New Farming Programme’, as well as new funding for rural community organisations across England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland.

Keith Halstead, Executive Director of The Royal Countryside Fund, said: “We would like to express our gratitude to our Royal Founding Patron, His Majesty The King, who created The Royal Countryside Fund and has remained steadfast in his support for the countryside. For the last 15 years, the RCF has provided practical, grounded help to ensure a resilient, rebalanced and regenerative future for the people of our beloved countryside.

“Hardworking family farms and rural communities are facing social, environmental and economic pressures that threaten the livelihoods they love. They shouldn’t have to face these challenges alone – and with us, they don’t have to. Over the last 15 years the RCF has supported over 4,000 farming families, helping them to make their farm businesses more financially resilient so they can secure their farms for generations to come, all while providing the support they need to farm in harmony with nature. We’ve also invested more than £12.5 million in over 500 rural community-led projects, creating real and lasting change.

“None of this work would be possible without the time, energy, and financial support that we have received from the incredibly generous individuals, trusts and foundations, corporate partners, and other organisations that share our vision. I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who has supported the RCF and helped to build a thriving countryside. 

“As we look forward to the next 15 years and beyond, we’re well aware of the scale of the challenge that faces us, but also the incredibly potential and opportunities that wait. By donating or even just spreading the word, you can help hardworking farmers build more resilient family farms, support brilliant community-led projects, and make sure the next generation has the opportunity to live and work on the land they love.”

 

July 9, 2025

New support for rural communities in Northumberland

The project will be delivered in three phases through 2025:

  1. The first phase will be focused on understanding the existing landscape of community organisations in Northumberland and the challenges they face, via a mapping and survey process.
  2. The second phase will involve engaging with selected local organisations to give them the support they need and build their capacity, via one-to-one advice and mentoring, signposting to existing training and resources, and group sessions.
  3. The final phase will help the organisations to develop sustainable funding solutions to deliver on their potential.

This latest project aims to build upon the success of the RCF’s previous work in Northumberland. In early 2025, the RCF awarded £79,000 to three Northumberland rural community organisations, in partnership with The National Lottery Community Fund. These projects are: The Nurture Project CIC, Rural Design Centre Ltd, and Lesbury Community Shop Ltd (pictured).

The project will be delivered by ‘Rural Catalyst’, a partnership between Community Action Northumberland (CAN), the National Innovation Centre for Rural Enterprise (NICRE) and the Rural Design Centre.

Based at Newcastle University, NICRE’s team combine research expertise with practical experience of stakeholder engagement and facilitating cross-organisation partnerships and projects. CAN has been active across Northumberland for over 70 years and is already a trusted partner for many local community organisations. The Rural Design Centre works with a range of rural stakeholders to understand business support and innovation activities in rural areas.

Keith Halstead, Executive Director, The Royal Countryside Fund, said: “We already work with some incredible rural community organisations in Northumberland and we’ve heard first-hand about the very real social, environmental and economic pressures that are impacting rural communities in the county. Despite these challenges, we know there is a huge amount of untapped potential in Northumberland and we want to help unlock this by supporting local people and organisations, who understand their communities and can find solutions that are right for them.

“We’ve appointed Rural Catalyst to deliver this important work because of their close connections to these communities and proven track record of delivering change. Like all of us at the RCF, their team is committed to bringing people together to make lasting change, so that countryside communities can thrive, now and for generations to come.

“Thanks to National Lottery Players and to The National Lottery Community Fund for their continued and generous support, which makes this work possible.”

Duncan Nicholson, Regional Head of Funding for the North East & Cumbria at The National Lottery Community Fund, said: “We’re delighted to be working with the Royal Countryside Fund on our joint ambition to support some of the most rurally isolated communities in Northumberland. None of what we do would be possible if it wasn’t for National Lottery players who, by playing the lottery, contribute to supporting charitable organisations to address some of the challenges faced by communities throughout the county.”

May 29, 2025

Barbour helps raise money with rewaxing at the Northumberland County Show 

Once again, the RCF team were warmly welcomed by the charity’s longstanding partner, Barbour. The team from Barbour ran a popular jacket re-waxing stand, raising close to £600 in donations for the RCF.

Sue Newton, Senior Global Corporate Communications Manager from Barbour said: “We are delighted to be back at the Northumberland County Show and to continue our partnership with the RCF, a charity we have supported for over 10 years.” 

Keith Halstead, Executive Director, The Royal Countryside Fund, said: “We are very happy to partner with Barbour once again in this popular re-waxing initiative at the Northumberland County Show. Our longstanding partnership with Barbour enables us to continue to support rural communities in Northumberland and across the UK, who are facing enormous social, environmental and economic pressures.

“It’s very fitting that the proceeds from this sustainable re-waxing service will go towards protecting and caring for our countryside – taking care of what is valuable. We are deeply grateful for Barbour’s continued support and commitment to rural life, which truly reflects the spirit of both our organisations.”

Find out more about how Barbour and the RCF have supported Northumberland farmers, here.

Later in the day, the RCF held a well-attended afternoon tea event, for local supporters and beneficiaries, bringing together the charity’s corporate partners and funders with Northumberland farmers and community organisers.

The event provided an opportunity for local organisations to meet and network, and hear more about the charity’s plans in Northumberland.

Find out more about the RCF’s support of Northumberland’s rural communities here.

April 16, 2025

We’ve awarded £20,000 to provide pressure checks for farming families

The project, delivered in partnership with trusted local farm support groups, aims to tackle the serious health challenges facing the UK’s farming communities by meeting them at the centre of their social and economic life, at livestock markets and agricultural shows.

It will run in collaboration with four members of the RCF’s Farm Support Groups Initiative, who are embedded within their farming communities:

This new funding will allow each group to extend their existing services, providing more dedicated healthcare hubs at their local marts, to help reach farmers. These drop-in clinics offer tailored services based on the needs of each region, including health screening, blood pressure and cholesterol checks, referrals to GPs or specialist services, advice on nutrition and fitness, and mental wellbeing support.

Research shows that farmers are at significantly increased risk from a range of health issues, with poor mental health being the biggest hidden problem facing the industry. In 2023, 62 farmers tragically took their own lives, up from 55 the previous year. With long days sitting on a tractor, many farmers also do not get enough physical exercise to maintain their health, are at the highest risk of developing skin cancer due to working long hours exposed to UV rays, and male farmers over 45 have an increased risk of heart disease compared to non-farmers.

Keith Halstead, Executive Director, The Royal Countryside Fund, said: “This funding supports vitally important work, which addresses the often invisible crisis in rural healthcare. These programmes are all about recognising the unique pressures of farming life and meeting these challenges with compassionate, practical and community-based solutions.

“We are very grateful to The Health Lottery Foundation and the Health Lottery Players for their support, which will make a clear and tangible difference to the lives of farmers and their families in Scotland, Wales, Lancashire and Lincolnshire.”

March 10, 2025

The Royal Countryside Fund and The National Lottery Community Fund support Northumberland rural organisations with £79,000 in funding

The Royal Countryside Fund (RCF), the charity focused on the unique issues facing farming and rural communities, has awarded £79,000 of funding to three rural community organisations in Northumberland, in partnership with The National Lottery Community Fund.

The three Northumberland organisations funded through this programme are:

  • The Nurture Project CIC, a community interest company which provides educational outdoor experiences, has been awarded £30,000. This funding will go towards a new project to enhance community cohesion through connecting with nature.
  • Rural Design Centre Ltd, a not-for-profit centre which works with a range of rural stakeholders to understand business support and innovation activities, has been awarded £29,700. This funding will allow the centre to co-design and pilot a new community-led rural enterprise service.
  • Lesbury Community Shop Ltd, a community-owned and run, non-profit-taking, village shop and provider of community-focused services, has been awarded £19,365. This funding will allow the shop to create a complete annual event program, with dedicated days to support local charities, groups and craftspeople.

This latest funding is part of the RCF’s first county-based programme, targeting rural organisations in Cumbria and Northumberland which have the potential to ‘power up, not prop up’ their communities.

Keith Halstead, Executive Director, The Royal Countryside Fund, said: “We’re all very excited to work closely with these fantastic Northumberland organisations to see how they put their collective ideas in place to shape the future of their local communities. We’re incredibly grateful to The National Lottery Community Fund for their support in this partnership and we want to extend our thanks to National Lottery players, for helping to fund these amazing community-led projects.”

Duncan Nicholson, Regional Head of Funding for North East & Cumbria at The National Lottery Community Fund, said: “We are rooted in the communities we serve, and we know grassroots groups and charities can have a huge impact, so we are proud to be working in partnership with The Royal Countryside Fund to support organisations in rural Northumberland to improve lives in their local communities.”

To date, the RCF has invested more than £12 million in over 500 rural community-led projects.

February 12, 2025

The Royal Countryside Fund and The National Lottery Community Fund support 13 Cumbrian rural organisations with £308,000 in funding

The funding was awarded in partnership with The National Lottery Community Fund, which distributes over £600m a year to communities across the UK.

This latest funding is part of the RCF’s first county-based programme, targeting rural organisations in Cumbria and Northumberland which have the potential to ‘power up, not prop up’ their communities.

Keith Halstead, Executive Director, RCF, said: “Our new funding approach in Cumbria aims to help people who have come together to act on what really matters most to them. We received so many strong funding applications from rural organisations across Cumbria and we’re all very excited to work closely with these thirteen organisations to see how they put their collective ideas in place to shape the future of their local communities”.

“We’re incredibly grateful to The National Lottery Community Fund for their support in this new partnership and we want to extend our thanks to National Lottery players, for helping to fund these amazing community-led projects.”

Duncan Nicholson, Regional Head of Funding for North East & Cumbria at The National Lottery Community Fund, said: “We are very proud to be working in partnership with the Royal Countryside Fund to support these incredible organisations in Cumbria to improve lives and increase resilience in their local communities. We look forward to seeing the environmental, social and economic impact of these projects, as supporting communities to be more sustainable is one of our key missions at The National Lottery Community Fund.”

The 13 Cumbrian organisations funded through this programme are :

  • Cumbria Biodiversity Data Centre, which brings together, analyses and shares information on Cumbria’s natural history, wildlife sites and habitats for education, has been awarded £23,250. This funding will allow the organisation to develop a package of training opportunities for community groups to develop the expertise needed to provide ecological services to their local community. Courses will be run in the local community with the aim of not only upskilling the community to carry out the work they would like to deliver in their community but also develop a ‘train the trainer’ approach to allow the communities in receipt of training to then provide training opportunities and information exchange with other communities.
  • Another Way, an environmental education charity, has been awarded £30,000 to support its ‘Power of 10’ movement, which provides young people and communities with a platform that promotes climate education, action, and collaboration. The charity aims to support 1,000 young people in Cumbria, training them to create projects that will benefit 10,000 people within Cumbria.
  • Alston Moor Partnership Ltd, a community partnership which represents the three wards of Alston Moor, has been awarded £28,875 by the RCF to fund a Volunteer Co-ordinator position. This Co-ordinator will liaise with many local groups and organisations, identifying their specific needs in the recruitment of further general and specialised volunteers, and, through a range of community contacts, come to understand what is preventing new volunteers coming forward and what might be done to make such volunteering more possible and enthusiastically embraced.
  • Barton and Pooley Bridge Community Fund has been awarded £29,600 to develop a sustainable and integrated transport system for the Ullswater valley for the benefit of residents, local businesses and visitors.
  • Bothel Village Hall has been awarded £6,000 to install electricity island infrastructure to create an emergency hub for the community.
  • Carlisle Radio FM Limited has been awarded £30,000 to take broadcasting out of the studio and into rural towns, offering rural residents a platform, while also fostering stronger community bonds. They will also hold workshops for rural communities focused on broadcasting, media production, and digital skills.
  • Grange over Sands Foodshare has been awarded £22,430 to expand its ‘food waste spiral’ approach, addressing food insecurity, climate change, and build community bonds in South Cumbria.
  • Grizedale Arts has been awarded £30,000 to purchase equipment to increase the offering of The Farmers Arms community hub, help to boost the local circular economy and increase community cohesion.
  • Orton Fells Farm Cluster CIC has been awarded £13,615 to work with Orton Wildlife and Landscapes Community Group to improve local wildflower verges, host school visits and bring together the local community with the farming community, increasing local knowledge and interest in farming and food production.
  • Skelton Toppin Memorial Hall has been awarded £5,000 to explore the potential to develop the hall as an emergency resilience centre through a feasibility study.
  • VistaVeg Ltd has been awarded £29,960 to establish a new market garden in a rural community, deliver training for new entrant growers, organise community open days and school visits.
  • Watchtree Nature Reserve Ltd has been awarded £30,000 to fund a new role, connecting visitors with habitat management and continuing to develop the reserve for the benefit of nature and the community.
  • West Lakeland Farmer Led Nature Recovery CIC has been awarded £29,988 to train four young people from the local area to become environmental land management advisors to farmers.

To date, the RCF has invested more than £12 million in over 500 rural community-led projects.

January 10, 2025

Royal Countryside Fund launches new grant programme for rural communities

The new, UK-wide grant programme from the RCF opens for applications on the 10th January 2025 and organisations have until the 21st February 2025 to apply for funding to create tangible change in their community. To apply, organisations will need to send a short video and complete a simple ‘Expression of Interest’ form on the RCF website. In these videos applicants should let the RCF know who they are, what they aim to do, why their project is needed and how it will help their community. Applicants should also set out how their project meets the RCF’s funding priorities.

The RCF’s grant programme is focused on supporting projects that:

  • Help keep young people in the countryside
  • Power-up rural communities
  • Increase environmental sustainability
  • Build emergency resilience in rural areas

Just over 17% of the population (10 million people) live in rural areas in England, according to UK government figures. The figure for Scotland is similar (17%), but the figures are higher in in Northern Ireland (36%), and in Wales where 21% of the population live in small villages or hamlets with a population of less than 5,000. Rural depopulation, particularly of younger people, continues to be a major threat to these communities across the UK.

Keith Halstead, Executive Director, RCF, said: “Rural communities are facing immense economic and social uncertainty across the UK. In some areas, the aging of the rural population and the lack of opportunities for younger people are threatening the very future of these communities. There are no easy solutions, but we want to find and fund innovative initiatives that can ‘power up’ rather than ‘prop up’ these places. We want to work directly with community-led organisations who are tackling the local issues they face by giving them the funding they need to bring their project to fruition.”

Projects must be community-led and will need to demonstrate that they actively listen to, and understand, the needs of their community. All applicants for this latest programme must be a properly constituted, community-led organisation based in a rural area with a turnover of less than £500,000.

To date, the RCF has invested more than £12 million in over 500 rural community-led projects.

For full eligibility details, please see the RCF website here.

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