LEADER+ Scotland
LEADER+ is a programme of European funding which promotes community and economic development in rural areas. The programme is worth almost £20m (€28m) in European funding between 2000-2006.
As a European Community Initiative, LEADER+ has a grassroots approach, encouraging and supporting projects for local rural development with a strong emphasis on co-operation and networking between rural areas.
The programme supports innovative and pilot projects, giving communities an opportunity to try out new approaches to improve the quality of life in their local area.
LEADER+ areas
In Scotland there are 13 LEADER+ areas:
Argyll, the Islands and Lochaber; Cairngorms; Dumfries and Galloway; East Fife; Lomond and Rural Stirling; Moray; North Highland; Northern Isles; Rural Tayside; Scottish Borders; South Lanarkshire; Tyne Esk (covering parts of East and Mid Lothian); and Western Isles.
LEADER+ Strategies
Each LEADER+ area has developed a strategy, set out in a business plan for the area based on at least one of the following "themes":
- The use of new know-how and new technologies to make the products and services of rural areas more competitive
- Adding value to local products, in particular by facilitating access to markets for small production units via collective actions
- Making the best use of natural and cultural resources, including enhancing the value of sites of community interest selected under NATURA 2000. Improving the quality of life in rural areas.
Responsibility for each LEADER+ area lies with the Local Action Group who implement the programme locally. Local Action Groups are made up of representatives of the rural community and local organisations and agencies which operate in the rural area.
After the current programme, LEADER will form part of the new Scottish Rural Development Plan 2007 - 2013. For more information about this click on the following link http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Rural/RDR/Intro.