The grants will support a diverse range of projects, from empowering young people in isolated areas of North and West Devon to providing business support to rural women. The grants support both national and local organisations.
The announcement will be made today by HRH during his visit to The Great Yorkshire Show. This week also marks the launch of the inaugural National Countryside Week by The Prince’s Countryside Fund. During the week, HRH has undertaken a range of rural visits across the country, including Devon and Cornwall, in celebration of the British countryside and the people who take care of it.

The Prince’s Countryside Fund July 2011 successful grantees are:
WiRE
Women in Rural Enterprise is a national organisation supporting rural women who own or want to start a business and provides business support and start up advice. The Prince’s Countryside Fund grant will support their Network Leadership Programme. This aims to develop 12 new network groups in key rural areas and in particular develop the leadership skills of network leaders who are providing the ‘on the ground’ advice. The end result is
that new network groups and well trained leaders will have a positive impact on rural communities, helping grow businesses and support a vibrant rural economy.
Seize the Moment
Seize the Moment is a social enterprise set up to empower young people living in isolated areas of rural North and West Devon. With The Prince’s Countryside Fund grant, Seize the Moment will set up a local food business establishing a cafe and market garden. The Cafe will be supplied by local produce and participants will receive training in catering, horticulture, business skills and finance. By the end of the three year project over 100 young people will have received accredited training, gained valuable work experience and the Cafe will be a sustainable local business.
Hampshire Fare
Hampshire Fare is a county food group established to promote the benefits of buying local produce. The grant will help support the group’s efforts to preserve the symbol of the county, the Hampshire Hog, which is under threat. Hampshire Fare will offer charcuterie training and encourage farmers to diversify into cured meats. By uniting producers and covering the initial training and marketing costs, their goal is to develop a new marque and sell the product at
local events and butchers, as well as restaurants to help ensure a sustainable future for
Hampshire pig farmers.
FACE
FACE is a nationwide charity which educates children and young people about food and farming in a sustainable countryside and represents10,000 teachers and 1,300 farmers. The grant monies will fund 9 Regional Education Coordinators targeting young people in economically deprived areas. At the end of the year, at least 9,000 children will have been reached and undertaken farm visits or school-based activity such as growing or cooking
fresh food.
The Clervaux Trust (Yorkshire)
The Clervaux Trust is committed to working with young people to develop their skills and experience in growing and harvesting, animal husbandry and land-based craft skills to reconnect them back to the land. Thanks to The Prince’s Countryside Fund, Clervaux will be able to provide accredited training in land skills, horticulture and agriculture to 60 young people over three years. They will also provide three apprenticeships in biodynamic farming, work experience for disadvantaged young people and employ an experienced farmer as tutor.
White Quarry Farm
White Quarry Farm in North Yorkshire is an arable and grassland farm covering 400 acres run by Tango Fawcett. The Fawcetts have been undertaking school visits for over 14 years and are passionate about welcoming children into the countryside. Thanks to The Prince’s
Countryside Fund, a grant of £1,600 will go towards equipping their new teaching room with tables, chairs, microscopes and cooking equipment. The children will now be able to create edible items and look at organisms under microscopes gaining valuable experience and adding another dimension to the visits.

Commenting on the latest grants, Mark Price, Managing Director Waitrose and Trustee of Prince’s Countryside Fund, said, “The Fund is delighted to support the great work being done by these organisations. Through these important grants and our broader activities such as this week’s inaugural National Countryside Week, we hope to inspire the general public to recognise the importance of the countryside to the nation’s well being and the wider British economy; and to take time to appreciate it and the people who care for it. All the companies that contribute to the Fund have a special connection to the British countryside through the products and services they make or sell.”

The grants announced today totalled £189,942.