THE Farmer Network covering Cumbria and the Dales is to get a 'royal' cash boost to help disadvantaged young people who want to run their own rural businesses.

The grant is part of the annual round of investment from the Prince's Countryside Fund aimed at training young people, helping farm businesses and improving rural livelihoods.

The funding was announced as part of National Countryside Week 2015, which began on Monday.

Since it was founded five years ago by Prince Charles, the Prince's Countryside Fund has granted £855,000 to rural projects in the North West.

The aim is to help secure a brighter future for British farmers and the countryside and so far around 6,700 people in the region have benefited.

In the latest round of funding, £41,000 will go to the Farmer Network, to support disadvantaged young people living in Cumbria and the Yorkshire Dales who want to start or develop a business.

Kate Gascoyne from the Farmer Network said “The additional financial support from The Prince’s Countryside Fund will help us to support people aged between 18 and 30 years old, who are passionate about setting up or developing a farming, or farming–related business, but are limited by the resources or opportunities available to them.

"Many of the young people want to take on a farm tenancy in their own right and some may have a chance in the long-term to take on a family farm business.

"Developing and practicing good business skills separately before this stage, is essential for young people to develop the understanding and ability to build financial resilience, to provide confidence for them and any future landlords or farming partners. Most of the beneficiaries so far have developed farming service or supply businesses, or set up their own herds or flocks.”