LEADER is part of the Scottish Rural Development Programme (SRDP), aimed at promoting economic and community development within rural areas. LEADER is a bottom-up method of delivering support for rural development through implementing a local rural development strategy. Support is 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 accounts for 5% of the total SRDP allocation (around £38m). An additional £19.2m Convergence Funding has been awarded to 7 LAGs in the Highlands and Islands in recognition of its previous status as a disadvantaged and remote area. 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 a partnership made up of representatives from:
The local council
- Local Enterprise Company
- Business people
- Other public agencies
- Voluntary action groups
- Community groups
20 LAGs cover around 95% of rural Scotland with quality local rural development strategies. Details of these groups, the amounts awarded and contact points are listed below. A map of LAG areas is available.
For application forms, guidance and advice contact your Local Action Group.
Full Technical Guidance for Local Action Group coordinators and administrative staff is available. This guidance is not aimed at potential applicants, please contact your Local Action Group for advice as each area will have it's own specific processes.
Revised guidance will be available from the end of November
There is additional guidance for breaches and penalties.
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;
For Northern Scotland and Islands: Anna Murray 0131 244 6180 anna.murray@scotland.gsi.gov.uk
For Southern Scotland: Elaine McGregor 0131 244 6207 elaine.mcgregor@scotland.gsi.gov.uk
Address
Scottish Goverment Rural Directorate, Area 1 - D, Pentland House, 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/
Ayrshire http://www.ayrshire-leader.com
Cairngorms http://www.cairngorms-leader.org/
East Renfrewhire http://www.eastrenfrewshireleader.co.uk
Fife http://www.leaderinfife.org/
Forth Valley & Lomond http://www.fvl.org.uk/
Highland http://www.highlandleader.com/
Kelvin Valley http://www.kelvinvalleyleader.org.uk
Orkney Islands http://www.orkneycommunities.co.uk/LEADER
Outer Hebrides http://www.outerhebridesleader.co.uk
Scottish Borders http://www.scotborders.gov.uk/newleader
Shetland http://www.shetlandleader.org/
South Lanarkshire http://www.southlanarkshireleader.com
Tyne Esk http://www.tyneesk.co.uk/
Rural Aberdeenshire http://www.aberdeenshireleader.org/
Rural Tayside http://www.ruraltaysideleader.com/
West Lothian http://www.leaderwl.co.uk/