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Rural Communities – The Royal Countryside Fund

The UK government uses the Rural Urban Classification to distinguish between rural and urban areas. The classification defines areas as rural if they have a resident population of under 10,000.

The Supporting Rural Communities programme is available for community-led projects that are pursuing innovative and strategic solutions to the challenges facing their rural area and which will improve the long-term viability and resilience of their community.

Following the launch of a new Funding Strategy in 2024, the Royal Countryside Fund’s focus is on the long-term sustainability of rural communities under 4 key themes:

  1. Building emergency resilience in rural areas: support for communities to develop preventative measures and plans to respond to the impacts of climate change and extreme weather events, helping them to be better prepared to cope with and recover from emergencies. Communities are invited to bid for money that will create tangible change.
  2. Environmental sustainability: support for community-driven projects which aim to increase the environmental sustainability of their community through reducing emissions/environmental impact, creating positive benefits for the community and improving the quality of the local environment.
  3. Keeping young people in the countryside:support for projects which increase access to skills training and employment opportunities in rural communities, and
  4. Powering up rural communities: support for projects which aim to provide financial benefits to the locality, addressing local needs.

The new Funding Strategy is also looking for organisations to demonstrate how they meet one or more of the following characteristics:

  • Are community-led.
  • Are working towards a long-term vision.
  • Can Demonstrate innovation, and
  • Can facilitate collaboration/connectedness.

In general, the Royal Countryside Fund is a revenue grant programme which has a small capital element. In the past grants have been awarded for initiatives that tackle issues in rural communities around:

  • Developing village amenities, such as shops and key services.
  • Financial hardship.
  • Improving digital connections.
  • Mental health needs.
  • Physical health, and
  • Social isolation.

UK not-for-profit organisations (see ‘Who can apply’ list above) may apply for a grant of up to £25,000 over 2 years. The average grant tends to be for around £15,000. There is usually a matched funding requirement for the Fund, as applicants are expected to have raised some funding from other sources prior to applying.

Priority is given to communities:

  • In remote rural areas, specifically areas of Locality Related Deprivation.
  • With an ageing population or with a limited number of working age people in the area, and
  • With a population of under 3,000 residents, with a drive time of over 30 minutes to a settlement of 10,000 or more.
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Further information, guidance, an eligibility quiz, frequently asked questions (FAQs) and an application form can be found on the Royal Countryside Fund website.

Contact details for the Fund are:

The Grants Team
The Royal Countryside Fund
13th Floor
33 Cavendish Square
London
W1G 0PW
Email: [email protected]

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