RURAL organisations in Cumbria are being urged to apply for grants of up to £50,000 from the Prince's Countryside Fund.

The latest funding round was launched last week and applications will be considered up to April 9.

The fund, now in its fifth year, has up to £800,000 to invest in initiatives that help to protect and sustain Britain's farming and rural communities.

Since its inception in 2010, the charity has given £5 million in grants distributed to 120 projects across the country, directly benefitting 100,000 people.

Since 2010, The Prince’s Countryside Fund has given grants to support 160 rural communities by improving service provision, 4,750 farm businesses through funding projects that work directly with farmers to improve efficiency and profitability and 1,100 rural enterprises through supporting innovative rural business projects. 4,850 young people have benefitted from projects offering training opportunities and 18,000 children educated in food and farming in a sustainable countryside.

The fund has recently reviewed its funding criteria in order to provide improved clarity to the organisations applying of the variety of innovative projects in the countryside it will support.

Fund manager Helen Aldis said: “We are looking for projects that will have a long-term positive impact on rural communities and enterprise, helping the people who care for our countryside and make it tick.

"It is one of our most valuable national assets and this funding will give much needed support to the remarkable people working to sustain a vibrant rural economy.”

Visit www.princescountrysidefund.org.uk