THREE emergency grants have been awarded to farming and rural support groups across Cumbria.

The Prince’s Countryside Fund has awarded grants to groups which are providing assistance to counter the effects of isolation during the coronavirus pandemic.

The groups are tackling Covid-19 in a number of ways – from grocery, hot meals, and prescription delivery in remote areas, to setting up community shops and food banks, or providing business support tailored for rural and farm businesses.

The beneficiaries include Northern Fells Rural Community Development Group, which is offering a range of support from shopping and dog walking to emotional support; Ambleside Parish Centre, which is providing hot meals to vulnerable people in the community; and Susan’s Farm CIO, which is offering telephone support, as well as hot meals to the most vulnerable in society.

The fund received nearly 300 applications for assistance, and thanks to generosity of its corporate partners, players of People’s Postcode Lottery, the Royal Warrant Holders Association Charitable Trust, and the Barbour Foundation, were able to release £120,963 in funding to 62 projects, benefitting people living and working in rural areas.

A statement from Northern Fells Group said: “We are delighted to have secured this emergency funding in such an unprecedented and busy time.

“We have worked incessantly to recruit over 170 new volunteers, to publicise their availability to offer help to our community and to match volunteers with tasks and older, more vulnerable people to help them with self isolation and lock down. The volunteers are a lifeline to our users.”