Waitrose and the PCF to support six projects through Happiness Grants
October 31, 2022
The Prince’s Countryside Fund (PCF) and Waitrose & Partners are thrilled to announce their new joint Happiness Grants, which will fund community grassroots projects addressing challenges such as food poverty, mental health, skills and development opportunities, and loneliness and isolation.
The first six projects receiving funding include Positive Community Action—a meal delivery service tackling rural isolation in Pewsey, Wiltshire, Black Mountains College of Talgarth, Wales—a training provider delivering rural skills and vocational courses in the area and Stoke Ferry Community Enterprise—a community initiative to restore the historic Blue Bell Pub in Stoke Ferry, Norfolk.
Three farm support organisations — Lincolnshire Rural Support Network, Shropshire Rural Support and Warwickshire Rural Hub — have also been awarded Happiness Grants to improve access to emergency mental health and financial services for farmers and support a sustainable farming group.
The chosen projects will also be paired with a local Waitrose store, offering community engagement, mentorship and fundraising opportunities.
Vicky Curran, Operations Coordinator at Black Mountains College said: “This funding has allowed us to accept everyone that has applied to our programmes. Last year, we had to turn people away as we were oversubscribed and couldn’t afford to run this based on the space and equipment we had. This year, we have been able to offer each person a place.”
Lindsey Crompton, Social Impact and Health Lead at Waitrose said: “Waitrose is extremely proud to be a founding corporate partner of The Prince’s Countryside Fund, and we’re excited to embark on this new phase of our partnership. Inspiring happiness in communities is a central component of the John Lewis Partnership Purpose, and The Prince’s Countryside Fund’s rural grants programmes embody this mission. We very much look forward to seeing how these exciting, grassroots projects develop.”
