THE PRINCE OF WALES IS TO LAUNCH A NEW FUND TO SAFEGUARD THE FUTURE OF BRITAIN'S HARD-PRESSED RURAL COMMUNITIES. THE SENIOR ROYAL HAS OBTAINED WIDESPREAD SUPPORT FROM BIG PRODUCERS AND RETAILERS, INCLUDING WAITROSE, TO SET UP THE PRINCE'S COUNTRYSIDE FUND. THE INITIATIVE, WHICH IS PRINCE CHARLES'S OWN BRAINCHILD, WILL GIVE A MUCH-NEEDED LIFELINE TO SOME OF BRITAIN'S MOST VULNERABLE FARMERS AND SMALL COMMUNITIES. THE PRINCE HAS SPOKEN EXCLUSIVELY ABOUT HIS MOTIVATION FOR SETTING UP THE NEW FUND, WHICH IS EXPECTED TO RAISE MILLIONS FOR DEPRESSED RURAL AREAS OVER THE COMING YEARS. 'I HAVE FELT FOR A LONG TIME THERE IS A PARTICULAR NEED TO ENSURE THAT THE SMALLER FAMILY FARMER, IN PARTICULAR, WAS ABLE TO SURVIVE IN THE FUTURE', HE SAID. THE PRINCE BELIEVES THAT THE FOOT AND MOUTH OUTBREAK IN 2001 AND OTHER PROBLEMS HAVE HAD A DEVASTATING EFFECT ON THE COUNTRYSIDE. HE SAID: 'IT IS TERRIBLY IMPORTANT TO HAVE A FUND WHICH IS AVAILABLE TO DRAW ON IN THE EVENT OF THESE EMERGENCIES AND ALSO (IN) THE COUNTRYSIDE GENERALLY AND RURAL COMMUNITIES THERE IS A GREAT DEAL MORE HARDSHIP THAN PEOPLE REALIZE. IT LOOKS WONDERFUL BUT IT ISN'T ALWAYS LIKE THAT.' THE PRINCE MADE HIS COMMENTS TO COUNTRYFILE, THE BBC ONE PROGRAM. THE NEW FUND WILL BE FORMALLY LAUNCHED ON 22.JULY. IT IS UNDERSTOOD THAT AROUND A DOZEN LEADING FIGURES FROM THE RETAIL AND PRODUCTION WORLDS WILL SERVE ON A BOARD OF TRUSTEES FOR THE NEW FUND AND THAT MANY COMPANIES HAVE ALREADY PLEDGED MONEY TO THE PRINCE'S NEW FUND WHICH MEANS IT WILL HAVE A 'STARTING POT' OF £1 MILLION.
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