Royal Countryside Fund unveils new £15m farming strategy

The Royal Countryside Fund (RCF) has launched a four-year strategy to extend its support of farming and rural families – which includes raising £15m.

Founded by the King, then Prince of Wales, in 2010, the organisation, formerly known as The Prince’s Countryside Fund, aims to help rural people secure their future, and that of their land.

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It has so far invested more than £12m in more than 500 rural community-led projects, and supported over 4,000 farming families through its farming programmes, including practical training and guidance on topics such as financial planning, sustainable farming practices and accessing government support. 

The new strategy inlcudes an ambitious growth plan, expanding and replicating its current model for supporting family farms and rural communities in individual counties, tailoring advice to local circumstances. 

Keith Halstead, executive director of The Royal Countryside Fund, said: “Our strategic ambition for 2024 to 2028 is to become the countryside charity of choice for people living and working in rural and farming communities across the UK, and for those who care about helping them achieve a sustainable future.

“Our vision is of a thriving countryside – a living landscape of working family farms and prosperous rural life, built on connections and relationships – which in turn shapes rural places, creating vibrant, secure and sustainable communities.

“Over the next four years we want to accelerate our scale and reach as an operational, delivery-focused charity to help ever more family farms and rural communities to secure their futures.”

Key highlights of the new RCF strategy include:

• Supporting a further 2,000 family farms to feel confident, connected, and sustainable.
• Develop and work with a total network of more than 6,000 farm businesses.
• Consolidate its relationship with farm support groups through a new model of support.
• Invest a further £3m in rural community projects across the UK through a new grants programme.
• Develop and work with a network of more than 500 rural, locally led community organisations across the UK.