The Chairman of the Caravan and Motorhome Club, David Turner, has confirmed that his nominated charity for 2024 will be The Royal Countryside Fund.
The Royal Countryside Fund is the only UK-wide charity that empowers family farms and rural communities to survive and thrive.
It has a vision of family farms and rural communities that fulfil their role in creating a sustainable future for the countryside and our whole nation.
The RCF was founded in 2010 by His Majesty King Charles III, to empower small farming businesses and rural communities, in recognition of the unprecedented pace of social, economic and environmental change contributing to the countryside’s steady decline, with rural incomes falling, a loss of local services and amenities, rising costs for farmers, increasing isolation and mental health issues.
The support of the Caravan and Motorhome Club helps the charity in providing farming families with tailored support and expertise in business training and land management advice, in harmony with nature, to enable them to prosper and survive, while its grants empower rural communities to help them succeed by funding their own solutions to local issues.
Since its formation the charity has supported over 2,500 small farming businesses across the UK and has awarded 481 grants totalling at £11.2m, reaching over 150,000 people in rural areas.
David Turner, Chairman of the Caravan and Motorhome Club, said: “It is my great privilege to confirm that The Royal Countryside Fund will be my nominated charity for 2024.
“The Chairman’s annual nominated charity is a way of bringing focus to our 1.1m members about a particular cause. Fundraising will take place across Club campsites and Club events such as ClubFest, our event at the end of May.”
Nick Lomas, Director General of the Caravan and Motorhome Club, said “Ensuring Britain’s beautiful and thriving countryside is secure for generations to come is deeply important to Club members.
“The Royal Countryside Fund has achieved so much and provided grant funding and farm resilience programmes across the UK for a number of years – but there are still thousands of farmers and rural dwellers who need help and support to ensure the longevity of the countryside and its accessibility for all.
“With thousands of Club campsite locations and Certificated Location owners across the UK, the Caravan and Motorhome Club has proudly supported the Fund since 2016 to play its part to ensure the countryside is supported and enable our members to enjoy the great outdoors.”
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