Welcome to the LEADER Programme

LEADER stands for Liasons Entre Actions de Development de L’economie Rurale/ Links between actions for the development of the rural community.

LEADER is part of the new Scottish Rural Development Programme, which is funded by the European Commission and will run from 2007-2013. It replaces the Leader+ programme that ran from 2000 to 2006.

LEADER is a mainstream part of the Scotland Rural Development Programme 2007-2013 and is funded through the European Commission with £41 million available for programmes across Scotland.

The programme is designed to bring about a grass roots form of local governance aimed at empowering rural communities to develop their own area using innovative approaches and co-operation. In order to achieve this, funding is to be awarded to Local Action Groups with partners from the public, private and third sectors to take decisions on projects which are community driven, have a wide community benefit and will lead to achieving some of the desired outcomes of the LEADER Programme.

Funding Round News

Final Round - Project Application deadline 25 June 2010

At the last meeting of the Kelvin Valley LEADER Programme it was agreed by the Local Action Group that the remaining funding for projects of £65,244 should be the subject of a call for project proposals which will contribute to leaving a legacy in the Kelvin Valley after the LEADER programme is completed in December 2010.  Successful proposals may also deal with those parts of the programme which have not been fully addressed by previous projects in relation to the Kelvin Valley LEADER Business Plan.

These will be key factors in determining the outcome of proposals and applicants will be expected to outline what legacy their project will provide.  It should also be borne in mind that remaining funds are extremely limited therefore it is unlikely that a large number of proposals will be funded.

This call for proposals will differ from previous funding rounds in that up to 90% of project costs can be funded though as always, the level of match funding which proposals can demonstrate will be a factor for consideration in the assessment and appraisal process. 

Another key factor for consideration will be the ability of projects to deliver within the timescale allowed.  The first phase of the Kelvin Valley LEADER Programme is scheduled to close in December 2010 therefore this call for proposals is looking for projects that can be delivered soon after approval.

The timescale for submissions is as follows:

In the first instance please contact the Kelvin Valley LEADER co-ordination team to discuss project ideas and access an application form.  Contact details for the team are:

Paul Kane (North Lanarkshire)
Tel: 01698 302842
E-mail: kanepaul@northlan.gov.uk
North Lanarkshire Council
Regeneration Services
3rd Floor, Civic Square, Windmillhill St, Motherwell, ML1 1AB

Frances Tonner (East Dunbartonshire)
Tel: 0141 578 8516
e-mail: frances.tonner@eastdunbarton.gov.uk
East Dunbartonshire Council
The Triangle, Kirkintilloch Road, Bishopbriggs, G64 2TR

Further information on the programme can be found at http://www.kelvinvalleyleader.org.uk/