FOUR local charities were invited to Prince Charles’ Highgrove estate on April 15 in recognition of their contribution within local communities.

Two representatives from charities Stroud-based Kids Stuff, Hope for Tomorrow in Tetbury, Mentoring Plus from Bath and One25 based in Bristol were welcomed by Christine Prescott, CEO, Highgrove Enterprises before taking a spring walk through the Royal Gardens and some afternoon tea.

All four charities were awarded funding through the small grants committee of The Prince of Wales’s Charitable Fund (PWCF) in February 2019.

The fund was founded in 1979 to support The Prince of Wales’ charitable work and aims to transform lives and build sustainable communities.

Stroud District Kids Stuff provides support for the most vulnerable children in the community and empowers mothers to improve their current situations by offering flexible working opportunities and the basic items their children need to thrive.

The funding will support women through economic empowerment, increased confidence, increased employability and decreased isolation.

Viki Lee, founder said: “We were thrilled to hear that we had been successful in our funding application.

“Kids Stuff provides essential work within our community with a baby bank, onsite shop and community sales.

“The funding will help us to support families even further by enabling us to offer flexible employment for parents.”

Hope for Tomorrow is a Tetbury based charity bringing cancer care closer to patients via their Mobile Cancer Care Units.

Mentoring Plus is a charity supporting young and vulnerable people aged 8 to 21 across Bath and North Somerset, while Bristol based, One25, supports women facing street sex work to break free from violence, poverty and addiction.