Prince’s backing for inner-city farmyard

A grant of just over £24,000 has been given to the Prism City Farm, a youth project based in Girlington in Bradford.

The inner-city farm boats a range of animals – including reptiles and aviary birds – and produces its own fruit and veg.

The farm works with young people, many of whom have been excluded from school or are at risk of getting involved in crime.

It helps teach them a range of new skills, improving their chances of finding work.

They money has come from the Prince’s Countryside Fund which aims to safeguard rural communities in the UK.

The Fund was launched in 2010 has already given away £1.1m to 35 successful projects and is the brainchild of The Prince of Wales.

The aim of The Fund is to support people who care for the countryside by providing grants to projects, large and small, across the UK that support the sustainability of the rural economy.

The Fund is supported by some of the UK’s most recognisable businesses, including supermarkets, banks and food companies.

Victoria Harris, director of The Prince’s Countryside Fund, said: “The range of issues that these projects tackle demonstrate the diverse challenges facing our countryside today.

“These range from providing skills and opportunities for young people to assistance to enable older people to remain independent in rural communities.

“We were inundated with applications of a very high standard but the projects we selected all make a special contribution to safeguarding the countryside at either a national or more local level across the UK.”

Prism City Farm offers young people aged between 12 and 21 the chance to manage an inner-city farm. It can be contacted on 01274 487633.