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Supporting Rural Development: Overview of the Highland LEADER Programme

The Highland LEADER Programme is an EU-funded initiative designed to promote bottom-up economic and community development in rural areas of the Highlands. Part of the Scottish Rural Development Programme, it is managed by local action groups (LAGs) aimed at fostering community-led projects. Since its launch in December 2009, it has supported 154 projects with over £4.5 million in grants, stimulating a total of £12.5 million into the local economy. The programme funds a broad range of initiatives, including culture, training, tourism, and social enterprises.

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Supporting Rural Development: Overview of the Highland LEADER Programme

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  1. Nicole Wallace LEADER Programme Manager

  2. What is LEADER? An EU Fund which aims to support ‘bottom up’ economic and community development specifically within rural areas • Now part of Scottish Rural Development Programme (SRDP) but administered separately by a Local Action Group (LAG)

  3. Highland LEADER Programme Geographic Coverage Highland Council area except for settlement development area of Inverness and CNP

  4. Highland LEADER Structure Highland Strategic LAG – Strategic overview of the programme Highland strategic budget 11 Local Area Partnerships Local Area plans Devolved local budgets

  5. Highland LEADER Budget (December 2011)

  6. Local Area Allocations to 2011

  7. What Can LEADER Fund? Progress To date • Highland Programme Launched December 2009 • 11 local partnerships with development plans and devolved budgets • 9 funding rounds • 154 projects supported • £4.5m of LEADER grant allocated • £12.5m into the highland economy

  8. Who Can Apply? • Constituted community groups, partnerships & voluntary organisations • Public agencies • Social enterprises • Private individuals with wide community support

  9. How Much Can We Fund? • Between 40-45% eligible costs - 45% if Public match available • Min grant of £1,000 • Max grant at discretion of local groups • Funding up to 2 years • Applicants must contribute min 5% from own funds (can be in-kind)

  10. What can LEADER Fund? Very wide range of projects-: 8 themes • Development planning and community capacity building • Culture & heritage • Training & learning opportunities • Access to facilities & services • Land, environment & access to countryside • Renewables • Tourism • Social enterprise & micro businesses

  11. Project Examples • ARCH - : Stop, Look and Listen . 3 years project which will offer 6 overlapping training programmes encouraging local people to get involved in and celebrate their local archaeology – Grant awarded £121,875 • Highland Opportunity Ltd, Highland Council and LEADER - -small grant scheme to support business start up in Rural Highland. Grant awarded £112,500 • Ardnamurchan Lighthouse - Series of footpaths and wind turbine - Total grant awarded £23,430 • Caithness Voluntary Group Project Title: Caithness Rural Transport Initiative - affordable wheelchair adapted public transport for the people of SE Caithness. Grant awarded £10,600 • CVS North – Sutherland Summit – brought together a wide range of partners to develop a vision for Sutherland, exploring new ways of supporting/ building the local economy. Grant awarded £4,150

  12. What is Ineligible? • Existing core staff costs • Continuation of existing services • Repairs to existing buildings or facilities • Statutory service provision • Financial / bank charges, Fixtures & fittings unrelated to delivery of LEADER project • Sports facilities primarily for local use! • CCTV and civic art projects, • Prize money, Recoverable VAT

  13. What are we looking for ? • Project ideas developed by/for the community - Evidence of need, demand and support • Wide community benefit • Scope for community involvement in the running of the project • Capacity to deliver • Innovation • Economic impact and VFM • Additionality • Equal opportunities • Transferability • Links to other strategies and plans

  14. How do you access LEADER Funds • Contact LEADER Development Team • Fill out an Enquiry form • Application form – 4 week deadline • Assessment passed to LAP • Circulated to local area partnership or strategic LAG • Formal discussion at meetings • Aim for consensus rather than formal vote • Project approved, deferred or rejected • Applicant informed ASAP after the meeting

  15. www.highlandleader.com

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