Prince funds yoga for young offenders
The Prince of Wales’ charity is funding yoga, meditation and ‘‘breath-focused stretches’’ for young prisoners, in an attempt to help restore ‘‘hope and positivity’’ behind bars.
The Prince’s foundation, which distributes funds to charities he favours, gave a grant to a project designed to bring harmony to young offenders through yoga.
The Duchess of Cornwall has previously spoken of the benefits of yoga, practising it herself, while the Duchess of Sussex is also a devotee.
The Prince of Wales’ Charitable Foundation’s (PWCF) annual report for 2018 shows that trustees approved a ‘‘small grant’’ – defined as up to £5000 (NZ$9435) – to the Prison Phoenix Trust, which ‘‘encourages prisoners in the development of their spiritual welfare, through the practices of meditation and yoga, working with silence and the breath’’.
It states: ‘‘Incarceration can take a severe toll on offenders’ mental health, especially in young people. The project aims to improve young offenders’ well-being and restore hope and positivity towards the future, with a view to reducing the likelihood of reoffending.’’
The Prison Phoenix Trust was offered a grant to run five new classes and continue seven existing classes, with the project already in place across 88 prisons and several young offender institutions.
In the past year, significantly larger grants were given to boost Britain’s bees, with the Prince understood to be particularly concerned about the decline of ‘‘pollinator populations’’.
About £37,000 was designated to the Bumblebee Conservation Trust, which looks after rare bees in North Devon, and £118,000 to Oxford Plant Sciences to research the behaviour of pollinators in agricultural landscapes.
Funds were also given to the Elderflowers Programme, which brings music and movement to those with dementia in Edinburgh, and Families United Network, which puts on activities for young people with disabilities.
The Silverline, a telephone service to combat loneliness in old people, received £12,000, with £41,790 going to the Prince of Wales’ Hospice in West Yorkshire, and £40,000 for Trees For Cities.
The Dry Stone Walling Association received £15,000, while £25,000 was given to Aid to the Church in Need.
The largest grants were for Prince Charles’ two key charity groups: £1.3 million to the Prince’s Foundation and £500,000 to the Prince’s Trust.
The report showed that the Foundation gave out £4.4 million in grants in 2017/8, compared with £3.1m in the financial year before. The level of donations decreased to £3m from £4.5m. – Telegraph Group