A chance to kick start a rural career + free Land Rover
Young people wanted for The Prince's Countryside Fund Land Rover Bursary 2016 –
The Prince’s Countryside Fund Land Rover Bursary Scheme 2016 is now open for applications. The valuable bursary seeks to award up to five inspiring young people aged 21 to 35 with the use of a Land Rover Discovery Sport for a year, to support the development of their countryside careers.
The 2016 Bursary also marks a renewed three-year partnership between The Prince’s Countryside Fund and Land Rover. Applications can be made online now at http://www.princescountrysidefund.org.uk.
The UK countryside is in desperate need of talented young people, with the average age of a British farmer being 59 and only 4% of the UK’s farmers under 35. Environmental conservation requires an estimated 30,000 new entrants by 2020 to maintain and protect our countryside, while in forestry, 53% of the workforce is over the age of 40.
Claire Saunders, Director of The Prince’s Countryside Fund said “There’s an acute need for young people to be supported to enter farming and related careers. Whether you’re new to farming, starting a “field to fork” food business or keen to bring new technologies and your skills to the countryside, The Prince’s Countryside Fund is here to support you. That’s why we’re delighted to be working in partnership with Land Rover to provide such practical and valuable support to young people starting out in their rural careers.
The 2016 bursary was launched on the 23rd March by the patron of the charity, HRH The Prince of Wales, at Rookin House Activity Centre near Penrith. Whilst there, Prince Charles met with a group of Cumbrian young farmers learning practical flood resilience driving skills and himself took part in the training, getting behind the wheel of a Land Rover Discovery Sport. HRH The Prince of Wales also spoke with previous beneficiaries of the bursary, learning how it has benefited their rural careers and accelerated the development of their countryside businesses.
Jeremy Hicks, Jaguar Land Rover UK Managing Director said, “Land Rover is synonymous with the countryside and we’re looking for the UK’s most enterprising young people who would benefit from the use of a Land Rover Discovery Sport. Access to a 4×4 vehicle can be crucial to getting a rural business off the ground. By providing a vehicle with capability to tackle the most challenging of rural terrains, space for seven and excellent towing capacity, we are aiming to help five ambitious young people to further their rural careers.”
Applications must be made online by 29th April 2016. The Prince’s Countryside Fund Land Rover Bursary is open to UK residents aged between 21 to 35 living and working in a rural area. For more information, terms and conditions and details on how to apply please visit:http://www.princescountrysidefund.org.uk.
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Notes to Editors:
The Prince’s Countryside Fund
Established by HRH The Prince of Wales in 2010, The Prince’s Countryside Fund exists to improve the prospects of family farm businesses and the quality of rural life. Through our partnerships and events such as National Countryside Week we celebrate and promote the value of the countryside.
The British countryside is a huge natural asset and its contribution to our everyday life cannot be underestimated. To help ensure its future The Prince’s Countryside Fund
· Provides more than £1m in grant funding every year to projects across the UK that help to provide a secure future for the countryside.
· Leads their own projects, such as The Prince’s Dairy Initiative, which helps farmers become more resilient to turbulent markets and challenging industry conditions.
· Commissions research into issues affecting farming families and rural communities.
· Advocates for the countryside and bring together individuals, rural charites and businesses to help tackle current challenges in the countryside
· Help communities in crisis through our Emergency Fund.
The Prince’s Countryside Fund relies on the income we generate through our corporate partnerships, logo licensing, events and donations, grateful for the generosity of all those that support us.
Land Rover
Since 1948 Land Rover has been manufacturing authentic 4x4s that represent true 'breadth of capability' across the model range. Defender, Discovery, Discovery Sport, Range Rover Sport, Range Rover and Range Rover Evoque each define the world's 4×4 sectors, with 80% of this model range exported to over 170 countries.
The Land Rover Discovery Sport is the world’s most versatile and capable premium compact SUV. The first member of the new Discovery family, the vehicle features 5+2 seating in a footprint no larger than existing 5-seat premium SUVs.
For further information log onto www.uk.media.landrover.com or contact: