This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Bids for Rural Partnership Fund
30/08/2002
Community-based projects across rural Scotland were
encouraged to take advantage of the latest round of the
Scottish Rural Partnership Fund today.
Deputy Minister for the Environment and Rural
Development Allan Wilson was speaking at the launch of the
Lochwinnoch Sustainable Communities Project in
Renfrewshire, one of the projects that has benefited from
the Fund.
Mr Wilson said:
"I am pleased to invite applications to the 2003-2004
round of the Scottish Rural Partnership Fund which last
year benefited almost 80 projects to the tune of £3
million.
"The Executive is committed to ensuring that everyone in
rural Scotland can access the opportunities and services
essential for a good quality of life and creating
communities and services that are sustainable in the longer
term. The Scottish Rural Partnership Fund offers funding to
communities to enable them to secure these objectives.
The Minister added: "Today, I am also delighted to
launch the Lochwinnoch Sustainable Communities Project, an
excellent example of the type of projects supported under
the fund."
The Scottish Rural Partnership Fund was set up in 1996
to support the development of rural communities throughout
Scotland. It has three elements:
- Rural Challenge Fund (RCF) encourages rural
projects, which provide innovative ways of tackling
specific rural problems, or create a wider range of
opportunities in rural areas. Grants of up to 50 per
cent of the total cost of the project, up to a miximum
of £50,000 are available for a minimum of one and a
maximum of three years.
- Rural Strategic Support Fund (RSSF) facilitates the
establishment of local rural partnerships. Grants up to
a maximum of £50,000 are available for a minimum of one
and a maximum of three years.
- Local Capital Grants Scheme (LCGS) supports local
voluntary, youth and community organisations to provide
new or upgrade existing community premises. Capital
grants of up to 50 per cent of total costs, up to a
maximum of £100,000, are avaiable. Applicants should
apply through their local authority.
All three funds are run as an annual competition. The
closing date for completed applications for the 2003/2004
round of awards is October 25, 2002. An announcement
regarding successful projects is expected in January
2003.
Applications for the RCF and RSSF can be obtained from
:
Scottish Rural Partnership Fund
Room 133
Pentland House
47 Robb's Loan
EDINBURGH
EH14 1TY
Local authorities are responsible for administering the
LCGS, and details of the Scheme can be obtained from the
relevant local authority.
The Lochwinnoch Project was successful in obtaining
Rural Challenge Fund monies to employ a full time
sustainable communities officer, for a period of three
years, to work with community groups, businesses and
environmental agencies to promote sutainable development
locally.