Royal Countryside Fund: free farm resilience programmes

Overview

This is free support rather than a cash grant. The Royal Countryside Fund (RCF), a charity, runs free programmes across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland to help family farms become more financially and environmentally resilient. Its flagship Farm Resilience Programme, running since 2016, offers free training that takes in the whole farm and the whole family. It helps you get a clearer picture of your finances and operations, then find practical changes where they will make the most difference. The RCF calls this a 'business-first' approach. Alongside it, the RCF lists several themed offers. Routes to Regen helps farmers move towards regenerative practices. Savings in Soil looks at cutting input costs and improving soil health. Working with Water covers low-cost changes for water management, drought and flooding. There is also support on biodiversity. The programmes are delivered locally and bring farmers together in groups to share ideas and advice, which many farmers value as much as the training itself. The RCF's page does not list a closing date, eligibility rules or a single application route, because programmes run locally at different times. The best next step is to check which programmes are running near you on the RCF website and register your interest. Who it suits: family farm businesses anywhere in the UK that want help with finances, planning or nature-friendly changes, especially if margins are tight or you are thinking about the next generation. Official source: https://www.royalcountrysidefund.org.uk/how-we-help/on-your-farm/. Last checked by GrantMatch on 14 October 2026.