- HRH The Prince of Wales visits Jaguar Land Rover Halewood
- Land Rover and The Prince's Countryside Fund announce five special bursaries
- Five Freelander 2 vehicles to be donated to rural projects
- HRH The Prince of Wales tours the production line to see Freelander being built
HRH The Prince of Wales visited Jaguar Land Rover's Halewood operations today as part of a series of visits to support UK manufacturing. His Royal Highness toured the production facility meeting young apprentices and speaking to employees building Land Rover Freelander 2 vehicles.
Announced today, Land Rover, in a partnership with The Prince's Countryside Fund, is supplying five Freelanders to support rural communities across the UK.
Working together with The Prince's Countryside Fund, Land Rover will offer bursaries to five individuals or groups who can demonstrate how the use of a Freelander for a year would enable them to support their rural community. They could be a young entrepreneur starting a rural enterprise, an apprentice hill farmer or an organisation offering transport to rurally isolated people or access to training opportunities for young people dedicated to building a sustainable future for rural communities.
Victoria Harris, Director of The Prince's Countryside Fund said: "We are delighted that Land Rover has committed to supporting the Fund. The bursaries will make a real difference to five rural communities and as one of the UK's leading employers, it is great that they are offering support to fledgling rural British businesses and entrepreneurs."
Victoria continued: "It is amazing to be here at Halewood today seeing these young engineering apprentices building the Freelander vehicles that will be going on to support five rural communities, it really shows how investment into UK industry can have a far‑reaching impact."
Jeremy Hicks, Managing Director of Jaguar Land Rover UK said: "Our agricultural industry is central to the UK economy and as a British manufacturer we realise the support needed to not only improve the sustainability of farming and rural communities but to encourage young people to want to be an integral part of the future of the British countryside. We are committed over the next three years to help HRH Prince Charles and The Prince's Countryside Fund reach these goals."
More detail on application criteria and selection will be announced later this year.
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Editors' notes
The Prince's Countryside Fund was set up in July 2010 by Business in the Community and is the brainchild of The Prince of Wales who has a long‑held commitment to supporting Britain's hard pressed rural areas. So far it has given over £1.7 million in grants distributed to over 50 projects across the country, directly benefitting nearly 20,000 people.
Projects that have been funded range from apprenticeships for budding hill farmers, training for young people to gain employment in the rural economy, community transport schemes in isolated rural areas and projects to educate school children about where their food comes from and why the countryside matters. In addition to its normal application process, the Fund also operates an emergency fund for times of need. All the projects focus on supporting the people who care for our countryside and make it tick.
The public can make a donation online at Virgin Giving, at the Post Office or by Text. Text PCF to 70300 and a £3 donation will be made to The Prince's Countryside Fund.Until March 2013 all donations will be given directly to the Farming Help Charities.
Land Rover
- Since 1948 Land Rover has been manufacturing authentic 4x4s that represent true 'breadth of capability' across the model range. Defender, Freelander, Discovery, Range Rover Sport, Range Rover and Range Rover Evoque each define the world's 4x4 sectors, with 78% of this model range exported to over 140 countries.
- Land Rover is committed to addressing the challenges of climate change and since September 2006 carbon dioxide generated by Land Rover manufacturing activities and UK customer vehicle use has been balanced through an industry leading offset programme run by Climate Care.
For further information on Land Rover log onto www.media.landrover.com or contact:
Lucy Reynolds
PR Manager, Land Rover UK
T: 02476 564 161
M: 07801 699928
Rachel Murray
Press Officer, Land Rover UK
T: 02476 564 127
M: 07780 494282
Kim Palmer
Senior Press Officer, Land Rover UK
T: 02476 564 129
M: 07795 666169
For more information on the Prince's Countryside Fund please visit: http://www.princescountrysidefund.org.uk/ or contact:
Victoria Elms
Programme Manager, The Prince's Countryside Fund
T: +44 (0)20 7566 6659
M: +44 (0)7779 222481