LEADER is part of the new Scottish Rural Development Programme, aimed at promoting economic and community development within rural areas. It replaces the Leader+ programme that ran from 2000 to 2006, and encourages new and experimental approaches to rural development. LEADER is a bottom-up method of delivering support for rural development through implementing a local rural development strategy. Support will be aimed primarily at small-scale, community driven projects that are pilot and innovative in nature.
The aim of LEADER is to increase the capacity of local rural community and business networks to build knowledge and skills, and encourage innovation and co-operation in order to tackle local development objectives. LEADER will account for 5% of the total SRDP allocation (around £38.5m). A further £19.2m will be available in the Highlands and Islands under Convergence Funds. Funding is awarded by Local Action Groups ( LAGs) who take decisions on projects which are community driven and have a wide community benefit. These LAGs are made up of representatives from:
The local council
- Local Enterprise Company
- Business people
- Other public agencies
- Voluntary action groups
- Community groups
A call was issued in summer 2007 for groups to express an interest in forming LAGs, a total of 16 groups were successful in attracting LEADER funding. Details of these groups, the amounts awarded and contact points are listed below;
Another 4 areas, Ayrshire, East Renfrewshire, Moray and Renfrewshire have come forward in the second round, which opened in March, and sufficient funding has been withheld for this. This will allow virtual coverage of the whole of rural Scotland. Contact points for these areas are listed below
Ayrshire - Billy McKissock william.mckissock@south-ayrshire.gov.uk
East Renfrewshire - Suzanne Tyrrell Suzanne.tyrrell@eastrenfrewshire.gov.uk
Moray - John Ferguson john.ferguson@moray.gov.uk
Renfrewshire - Jenny Gough jenny.gough@renfrewshire.gov.uk
A generic application form has been drawn up and is available in word and pdf versions below. Guidance notes are also attached.
Application Form ( word version) Application Form ( pdf version) Guidance ( Application Form Guidance)
Full Technical Guidance for LAGs has been completed and can be viewed here.
Additional guidance for breaches and penalties can be viewed here
Any publicity material relating to LEADER must contain logos for LEADER, the EU and the Scottish Government, in addition to any local branding.
Further details can be found by contacting the LEADER Team in the Scottish Government. Contact either;
Iain Matheson 0131 244 6161 iain.matheson@scotland.gsi.gov.uk
Lorraine McEwan 0131 244 4157 lorraine.mcewan@scotland.gsi.gov.uk
Address
Scottish Goverment Rural Directorate, 47 Robb's Loan, Edinburgh, EH14 1TY
For further details, please see the LEADER information leaflet. The leaflet is also available in pdf format (340kb). This information is aimed principally at Local Action Groups. If you are an applicant organisation, you are welcome to browse through these pages, but please contact your LAG before completing any forms.
Links to individual LAG websites;
Argyll & The Islands http://www.argyllandtheislandsleader.org.uk/
Cairngorms http://www.cairngorms-leader.org/
Forth Valley & Lomond http://www.fvl.org.uk/
Highland http://www.highlandleader.com/
Orkney Islands http://www.orkneycommunities.co.uk/LEADER
Scottish Borders http://www.scotborders.gov.uk/newleader
Shetland http://www.shetlandleader.org/
Tyne Esk http://www.tyneesk.co.uk/
Rural Aberdeenshire http://www.aberdeenshireleader.org/
Rural Tayside http://www.ruraltaysideleader.com/