From shops to pop-ups: 19 new communities receive grant funding
July 1, 2021
19 new rural community projects across the UK receive £169,760.08 of funding from The Prince’s Countryside Fund.
From Northern Ireland to Northumberland, from pubs to hubs and shops to pop-ups, The Prince’s Countryside Fund (PCF) is proud to support the projects at the heart of our rural communities. Funding for this grant round has been generously provided by players of People’s Postcode Lottery and the NFU Mutual Charitable Trust. Established in 2010 by HRH The Prince of Wales, the PCF aims to ensure that the UK has thriving family farms and rural communities, encouraged and recognised for their role in creating a sustainable future for the countryside and our whole nation.
Since 2016, the PCF has received significant support for their grant programmes from players of People’s Postcode Lottery. The PCF is extremely grateful for this incredible level of support and is thrilled to announce that over the past five years, we have distributed nearly £1.5 million of grant funding to 140 grass-roots rural community projects thanks to players of People’s Postcode Lottery.
Barsham and Shipmeadow Village Hall in Suffolk has had little work done since 1965. The funding they have received will allow this building, a focus of local activity, to survive and thrive.
Zane, Treasurer of Barsham and Shipmeadow Village Hall said: “The most generous grant of £10,000 which we received from The Prince’s Countryside Fund has helped us to provide fully modern, fit for purpose kitchen facilities. These will greatly enhance our community Harvest Suppers, Christmas lunches and family celebrations of all kinds and so help to bring our scattered rural community together. We thank all those associated with the PCF for their steadfast support of small rural communities such as ours.”
“Our grant from The Prince’s Countryside Fund will help to bring our scattered rural community together.”
Zane, Treasurer of Barsham and Shipmeadow Village Hall
Jim McLaren, NFU Mutual Chairman, said: “The NFU Mutual Charitable Trust is proud to support causes across the UK which are changing lives and giving hope for a better future. Last year saw the highest value of support provided by the Charitable Trust since it was formed in 1998. We recognise the importance of extending our heightened support during the ongoing crisis, so are proud to be matching the same level of funding this year. We want to help charities like The Prince’s Countryside Fund meet demand for their services and build resilience for the future, maintaining practical and emotional support for our communities at a time which is proving especially difficult.”
Keith Halstead, Executive Director at The Prince’s Countryside Fund said: “The PCF’s grant programmes work to empower rural communities so that they flourish, now and in the future. Our funding will enable a further 19 rural communities to progress projects which really matter to them, and which will improve their lives. I would like to thank both players of People’s Postcode Lottery and the NFU Mutual Charitable Trust for their continuing support.
“Players of People’s Postcode Lottery have been supporting the PCF’s work since 2016, raising nearly £1.5 million to date. I want to say a huge thank you to all players for enabling an incredible 140 rural community projects to proceed. Your continuing support is invaluable in helping the PCF create a real future for rural Britain.”
The PCF will be open for grants again on Monday 9th August, at the start of National Countryside Week (7th to 15th August). This year, we’ll be at the Cotswold Farm park with our ambassador, Adam Henson.
The Village Survival Guide
Want to get your community up and running? The Village Survival Guide offers hints, tips and practical advice from people who have made a real difference in their rural community.
The successful communities:
- Barsham & Shipmeadow Village Hall (Suffolk) £10,000
- Bealings Community Hub (Suffolk) £10,000
- Brigstock Village Hall CIO (Northamptonshire) £8,535
- Crackington Village Shop (Cornwall) £9,471
- Fishguard YFC and Community Hall (Wales) £10,000
- Gressenhall Community Enterprise (Norfolk) £9,850
- Holy Island of Lindisfarne Community Development Trust (Northumberland) £8,780
- Light up Lives CIC (Cumbria) £6,910
- Newcastleton and District Community Trust (Scotland) £7,578
- Northern Fells Rural Community Development Group (Cumbria) £10,000
- Parracombe Community Trust Ltd (Devon) £9,870
- Revival North Yorkshire CIC (Yorkshire) £9,840
- Scarva and District Cultural Society Ltd (Northern Ireland) £10,000
- The Llangors Community Shop Limited (Wales) £10,000
- The Locks Inn Community Pub (Suffolk) £10,000
- The Parochial Church Council of Huntspill St. Peter and All Hallows (Somerset) £10,000
- The Square Shop, Northlew (Devon) £2,950
- West Radnor Community Haven (Wales) £5,976
- Winkleigh Sports Centre- Winkleigh War Memorial Recreation Field Fund (Devon) £10,000
