Funding is available for rural initiatives that benefit communities – such as projects involving village shops, pubs and the delivery of other important services.

Established by Prince Charles in 2010, the fund aims to improve the prospects of rural businesses and the quality of rural life.

It provides more than £1m in grant funding every year to projects across the UK that help to provide a secure future for the countryside.

Fund director Claire Saunders said: "The Prince's Countryside Fund grant programme provides an essential lifeline to people living and working in the countryside and is needed now more than ever."

The grant programme was geared towards helping grassroots organisations overcome the range of challenges faced by rural communities.

Applications are being sought to support activity that results in a long-term positive impact on rural communities by helping the people that live and work in the countryside.

The fund's grant programme currently aims to tackle the following rural issues:

* Developing thriving rural communities by improving service provision in rural areas.
* Transforming rural livelihoods by supporting rural enterprise and farming businesses.
* Creating the farmers of the future by providing training opportunities for young people and unemployed people.

Each theme is described in more detail in a Grant Eligibility and Guidance Document.

The fund has recently introduced a new grant application process.

All applicants will need to provide details as a new applicant as no information from previous funding rounds have been transferred to the new system.

For more details about making an application, click here.

The fund opens for funding applications twice a year. It is currently open for applications until midnight on 13 April 2016.