THE Prince’s Countryside Fund has announced £718,000 of grant funding to support vital rural initiatives to improve the lives of people living and working in the countryside.

And more than £50,000 has been awarded to two rural projects in Yorkshire delivered by the Clapham-based Yorkshire Dales Millennium Trust and the Nidderdale Agricultural Society.

Founded by HRH The Prince of Wales in 2010 to help secure a brighter future for the British countryside, the fund has invested over £6.7 million in projects right across the UK both through immediate assistance and longer-term sustainability.

These new grants have been awarded to help support vulnerable farm businesses, train young people in farming and rural skills and help develop thriving rural communities.

Yorkshire Dales Millennium Trust will use its money for its Ingleborough Dales Rural Trainee Project which will provide six 18-month traineeships in environmental conservation and traditional rural management skills for young people aged 16 to 24.

Don Gamble, of the trust, said: “We want to address the lack of opportunity in the Ingleborough area for young people to discover interesting and important jobs which allow them to live locally and help manage this superb landscape. Job opportunities in isolated rural areas are often far slimmer, forcing young people to look further afield for work.

"We hope our Rural Trainee Project will nurture six young people and help them learn invaluable skills for their futures. ”

The Nidderdale Agricultural Society will put its grant to assist with the costs of constructing a new building for a meeting room for Nidderdale show committee and other local groups to use as a venue for groups including Nidderdale AONB, local parish councils, Nidderdale Young Farmers Club and local Yorkshire Dales Farmers Network for running training courses and for information meetings.

Claire Saunders, director of The Prince’s Countryside Fund, said “Farming and rural businesses have been hit hard in the past 12 months as a fall in commodity prices and increased administrative burdens have taken their toll, notwithstanding the devastation of storms and subsequent flooding.

"As well as dealing with the immediate pressures we are committed to supporting communities to provide vital services and inspire the next generation to develop the skills and experience to live and work in the countryside.”