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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.

December 6, 2024

RCF celebrates Grampound Community Shop’s 10-year anniversary

In 2012, the only grocery store in Grampound was set to close, leaving nearby residents increasingly isolated and without easy access to a shop. In response, the local community came together to establish a community shop, offering shares in the project to over 220 residents, and working hard to secure planning permission and raise the necessary money.

The new community shop opened in November 2014, thanks in part to funding from the RCF. Since then, a dedicated team of volunteers have run the shop, stocking the shelves, carrying out maintenance and managing the finances. Over the last 10 years the Grampound residents have maintained their shop with energy and enthusiasm, improving the facilities, and providing a self-sustaining service for the benefit of the whole community. Today the project is widely regarded as a highly successful enterprise and its team is frequently asked to mentor other similar start-ups.

Alongside the core retail business, the shop provides other valuable facilities, including a weekly Post Office service and a way for locals to pick up medical prescriptions. It is also a vital hub for the community, where residents can socialise and volunteers can develop their skills.

RCF trustee, Chris Sparrow, attended the shop’s 10-year anniversary celebration on November 2nd to offer his congratulations on behalf of the charity. With over 100 people in attendance, the joyous atmosphere at the event was proof of the affection the Grampound community has for its shop.

Pippa Fry, Rural Communities Engagement Manager at the RCF, said: “With our RCF grants we want to fund sustainable, community-led solutions that ‘power-up’ up communities, increasing their resilience. Helping rural communities to thrive is essential for the future of our countryside.

“We know what a massive difference funding can make to the day-to-day lives of people in rural areas and the Grampound Community Shop is a fantastic example of this. The shop’s 10-year anniversary celebration shows just how valuable and cherished this institution has become. We wish them all the best for the next 10 years of their journey!”

To find out more about the RCF’s work with rural communities and to see information about upcoming grants, click here.

October 28, 2024

RCF funding supports community centre on the Isle of Lewis

Run by the Carloway Community Association, the new local hub was developed on the site of the former Carloway School building and was supported with over £1.3 million in funding from several organisations, including £25,000 from the RCF.

The community centre is now home to the village’s only shop, Bùth Chàrlabhaigh, and the RCF’s grant supports the employment of a shop manager for this important community hub.

As well as providing services for tourists, the community centre offers office space and accommodation for local organisations, such as Comann Eachdraidh Chàrlabhaigh (Carloway Historical Society), Urras Oighreachd Chàrlabhaigh (Carloway Estate Trust), the youth club, and Carloway Choir, as well as hosting Gaelic classes, craft fairs and sporting events. The centre also hosts the annual Carloway Agricultural and Heavy Games Show.

The centre was officially opened this summer by Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal, who joined Iain Macaulay, Lord-Lieutenant of the Western Isles, for a tour of the upgraded facilities. During her visit, The Princes Royal met with several volunteers, local community groups, and Bùth Chàrlabhaigh staff before unveiling a plaque to commemorate the opening of the Community Centre and her visit.

Mairi Steele, Chair of Carloway Community Association, said: “Our community centre has been operating for just over a year, and we’ve been busy with a range of activities and events, bringing that community spirit back to the area. We are delighted that the Princess Royal was able to find the time to visit our centre and give us an opportunity to officially celebrate its opening.

“Since the closure of Carloway School in 2013, the local community has worked very hard to raise funds to transform the site into a sustainable, high-quality, community-owned facility. We’re thankful to have the invaluable support from organisations such as The Royal Countryside Fund who share our vision and values.”

Pippa Fry, Rural Communities Engagement Manager at the RCF, said: “The RCF is one of very few funders focused specifically on rural communities across the UK. Our mission is to empower rural communities to develop community-led solutions that increase their resilience and sustainability.

“Our charity supports projects, such as the Carloway Community Centre, to help rural communities thrive and contribute to a sustainable future for the countryside.”

To find out more about the RCF’s work with rural communities and to see information about upcoming grants, click here.

October 10, 2024

The Royal Countryside Fund gathers farmers in Lancashire to explore biodiversity

The session saw 24 farming families attend from across the county with active participation and discussion throughout. 

The workshop, delivered by Yorkshire farmer and consultant Fraser Hugill, provided attendees with valuable insights into how biodiversity can benefit both farm ecosystems and business sustainability. Emphasising the importance of biodiversity in farming systems, the workshop offered practical steps farmers can take to protect and enhance habitats. The session also outlined available funding opportunities to support biodiversity on farms.

Attendees discussed what species and habitats they would like to see in the future and how taking photographs throughout the year can create a good baseline record of what is already present.

Keith Halstead, Executive Director of The Royal Countryside Fund, said: “It was encouraging to see so many farmers attend at the end of a busy day on their farm demonstrating how much enthusiasm and interest there is for this topic, as biodiversity not only forms an essential part of our farming systems, but also contributes to the overall quality of all our lives.”

The Royal Countryside Fund would like to acknowledge our thanks to The Royal Warrant Holders Association Charity Fund for their generous support of this workshop. 

Claire Anderson, Manager of The Royal Warrant Holders Association Charity Fund, said: “The Trustees and I were delighted to support a wonderful initiative. Great to hear that so many farming families attended from across the UK, hopefully they will action the practical steps to reduce the impact on biodiversity.”

October 3, 2024

The Royal Countryside Fund receives new Scottish Government funding to support farmers

The KTIF supports projects that promote skills development or deliver improvements in business practice, resource efficiency, environmental performance and sustainability. The RCF is one of seven projects chosen by the Scottish Government to receive a total of more than £300,000 in funding from the KTIF.

Originally launched in 2016, the Farm Resilience Programme is the RCF’s flagship farmer support programme, which offers free business skills and environment training to family farm businesses across the UK, and has now benefitted nearly 1,400 families. The programme is also supported by Aldi and Morrisons.

This latest funding will allow The Royal Countryside Fund to expand its Farm Resilience Programme to support an additional 80 -100 harder to reach family farm businesses in four locations across Scotland. Eligible farming families will be invited to take part in a series of workshops designed to help their business become more profitable and sustainable, including:

  • Understanding your farm business accounts and budgeting
  • Know your figures, a future without subsidies
  • Your farm and the environment
  • Planning for your future
  • Farm safety and mental health

The programme, which is free to join, is welcome to everyone in the family or farm business, with a hot meal provided at each meeting. Each session is delivered by an expert agricultural consultant and the free programme is worth over £2,000 per farm. An independent evaluation found that the programme delivers significant economic, social, and environmental benefits for farmers. For every £1 invested by the programme, there is around a £3 return for farmers – not including ongoing benefits to farmers which continue after they have completed the programme.

Keith Halstead, Executive Director of The Royal Countryside Fund, said: “Farming families and crofters are the beating heart of Scotland’s rural communities and The Royal Countryside Fund is committed to giving these families the practical support they need for their business to prosper and thrive. Over the last 8 years, we’ve seen the positive difference our Farm Resilience Programme has already made, in improving profitability, confidence and business skills and this new funding from the KTIF will allow us to expand our support across four new locations, reaching an additional 80-100 faming businesses. In the long term, we hope this will lead to a more resilient agriculture sector, reduced rural isolation, stronger community networks and greater financial viability among small-scale family farms in Scotland.

“I would strongly encourage any family farms or crofters who are looking at ways to make change to their business wish to join this programme to visit our website www.royalcountrysidefund.org.uk for further information or contact Clemmie Addison-Atkinson on caddison-atkinson@countrysidefund.org.uk / 07484 532949”

Mairi Gougeon, Rural Affairs Secretary, said: “The Knowledge Transfer and Innovation Fund supports the agriculture sector to realise the wealth of innovation and skills within it and find practical ways to share these on-farm improvements with the wider community. These seven projects will also help farmers and crofters access resources and develop skills in areas that build towards our targets to reach net zero and better manage resources.

“I extend my thanks to all who applied to KTIF this year for their diverse and inspired proposals, and for their continued engagement with the scheme.”

The programme is open to dairy and livestock family farm businesses and takes a whole-farm and whole-family approach. To find out more and sign up, farmers can visit www.royalcountrysidefund.org.uk/farmresilience 

September 27, 2024

Gareth Davies, former CEO of Tir Dewi joins The Royal Countryside Fund to extend its work in Wales 

Gareth has worked with The RCF for many years in his previous role as CEO of Welsh farming charity Tir Dewi. Gareth was fundamental in transforming the reach of Tir Dewi, which under his leadership grew from being a small charity with one part-time employee to an organisation with over 65 volunteers that has supported over 600 farms across Wales. It is now firmly established as a leading provider of farm support in the country. 

With his vast experience, Gareth is perfectly placed to deliver The RCF’s ambition to offer more support to Welsh farming and rural communities. “We recognise that this is a very challenging time for family farms and rural communities in Wales,” says Maddy Taylor, Head of Operations at The RCF.   “We are delighted that Gareth has joined our team, providing the opportunity for The RCF to better collaborate with local partners and ensure that we are providing support where it is most needed.” 

Gareth Davies responded, “The RCF was a funding partner for the whole of my time at Tir Dewi so I got to know the organisation really well.  It became clear to me that in addition to being a source of funds, they shared the same concerns for farms and the rural communities that they support and the same passion for helping them. The RCF also introduced me to a network of others doing similar work across the UK, enabling sharing of best practice and giving me others to talk to.” 

The Royal Countryside Fund looks forward to Gareth’s’ contributions towards its vision of a thriving countryside – a living landscape of working family farms and prosperous rural life, based on connections and relationships.  

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