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King Charles' charity opens new agricultural programme to support new entrants and young people into farming

The Royal Countryside Fund and Aldi UK have announced they will be working together to help break down the barriers faced by those seeking to enter a career in agriculture

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New entrants to farming and young people have been encouraged to join the virtual workshop by The Royal Countryside Fund
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New entrants to farming and young people have been encouraged to join the virtual workshop by The Royal Countryside Fund

A charity founded by King Charles III has announced its ‘Opening the Gate' programme has officially opened to help provide young people and new entrants the skills they need to succeed in agriculture.

The Royal Countryside Fund (RCF) - established in 2010 by King Charles to 'empower' farmers - and Aldi UK have confirmed the virtual workshop has now started taking registrations to ‘break down the barriers and challenges' people face either working or gaining experience in the agricultural sector.

See also: Royal Countryside Fund launches free support programme

King Charles helped to establish the charity in 2010 to help empower farmers and rural communities

Becca Wilson and Lizzie McLaughlin from the Boots and Heels podcast, as well as The Institute of Agriculture and Horticulture, have also been confirmed as guests for the event.

Research from the RCF and Aldi has found access to finance and land came out as the 'greatest barriers' to young people and new entrants - with knowledge exchange and development opportunities ‘sparse'.

See also: King Charles rebrands farming charity

Half of the respondents from the study said they were ‘unaware how or where' to access support.

Liz Fox, national sustainability director at Aldi, said she was delighted to partner with RCF in a programme which hopes to ‘inspire talent and promote' agricultural career pathways.

Keith Halstead, executive director of RCF, reaffirmed his commitment to help support young people and new entrants to ‘successfully navigate' a period of agricultural transition.

Opening the Gate will take place on Monday (October 9) at 7pm and you can sign-up .

See also: King's coronation special: Voice of rural communities and small family farms

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