Outer Hebrides LEADER

Projects must:

• Fit with the local theme of 'Revitalising Communities'
• A bottom-up approach - opportunities will be identified, themes selected and development strategies formulated at a local or community level.
• Innovation - strategies must embody originality and innovative approaches within their local contexts.  Particular projects implemented within local strategies should show an element of originality or experimentation where possible, and complement other activities. 
• Be Environmentally Sustainable.
• Show Equal Opportunities for all throughout the project's life - there must be no inequality between women, men, ethnic origin, religion or belief, disability, age, sexual orientation or geographical location.
• Fit with LEADER Innse Gall's Local Development Strategy.

The following conditions apply to any project application:

• All match funding must be in place, and evidence provided, before work on the projects commences.  Retrospective approval is not allowed.
• The maximum LEADER grant intervention rate will be 50% of the total eligible costs.
• A minimum of 5% eligible costs (in-kind, own contributions, private or public sources) to be met by the applicant.
• Minimum project cost of £1000.
• Maximum grant award of £125,000.
• LEADER can not be funded by any other SRDP or European programmes.
• Projects must demonstrate that they are sustainable over the long term.
• If approved LEADER funding must be acknowledged in all publicity throughout the projects lifetime.
• Applicants who have already successfuly applied to LEADER are still eligible to apply again with a new project.

Ineligible Activity

• VAT that is recoverable by whatever means is ineligible.
• Existing core staff costs, general running costs of an organisation, prize money and gifts are not eligible for grant support.
• Statutory obligations and activites of an organisation will not be funded.
• LEADER support cannot be given to Post Offices.
• General refurbishments, routine repairs and maintenance.
• Statutory responsibilities of housing, health, social work, school (main cirriculum) and higher education.
• Insurance costs for premises.
• Projects that merely replace an existing facility or shceme.
• Works that are required to meet statutory UK/ Scottish legislation or EU directives.
• Social welfare facilities, although there is scope to improve access to childcare.

Restrictions

• Retained profits cannot be used to offset the beneficiary contribution/ match funding element of the project, however it can be used to reduce the net costs of the project and thereby the amount of LEADER funding required.
• Fixtures and fittings are generally ineligible unless they are deemed essential to the delivery of the LEADER project.
• Grant funding for professional fees will normally be restricted to 10% of the total project costs.  In addition, grant funding for the purchase of land and buildings is also restricted to 10% of the total project costs.
• Sports facilities would not be funded unless there is a wider community benefit and involves training people in the leisure and tourism industries.
• Play parks and equipment can be supported where this is part of a larger community project and not just the provision of a small number of swings and play equipment.
• Funding of community projects on Forestry and other forms of land management will be eligible provided they demonstrate wider community benefits and are not a direct replacement of Rural Development Contract grants.

Further Guidance:

• Claims must be made within 2 years of the project approval and evidence must be provided that the project has commenced within 3 months of approval. 
• All payments and documents must be supported by a properly vouched and fully transparent audit trail. Original receipted invoices vouching individual items of expenditure are required in all circumstances.
• Payments of grants are retrospective on productions of receipted original invoices, and a completed grant claim and progress report form.
• All expenditure must be incurred and defrayed ( i.e. left the bank account) before it is included in a claim.
• Statutory obligations and activities of an organisation will not be funded.
• Fixtures and fittings are generally ineligible unless they are deemed essential to the delivery of the LEADER project.
• Grant funding for professional fees will normally be restricted to 10% of the total project costs.  In addition, grant funding for the purchase of land and buildings is also restricted to 10% of the total projects costs.
• Where LEADER support involves grant funding for building projects and land purchase it is expected that the project would deliver the originally funded intention for 10 years after its completion, and for 5 years after delivery or completion of all other types of tangible items.
• Funding that involves building projects must produce a Completion Certification when all building works have concluded.
• Applicants are responsible for monitoring, reporting and controlling the project and ensuring no double funding occurs on the approved activity.
• Beneficiaries are to inform the LAG if there are any material project changes. 
• It is the applicant's responsibility to comply with any statutory requirements that apply to any works or services carried out, including local byelaws, and the appropriate standards.
• Retained profits cannot be used to offset the beneficiary contribution/match funding element of the project however can be used to reduce the net costs of the project and thereby the amount of the LEADER funding required.
• Grant payments to beneficiaries MUST be made by the BACS system or a similar electronic transfer system only.  Cheques or other forms of payments i.e. cash are not acceptable in terms of the EU regulation. 
• For works costing less that £50,000 three written quotations are sufficient.  (Two are acceptable for less than £5,000 if considered value for money).  If the project is going to cost more then it is to be advertised and sealed bids sought.  If more than £100,000 the tender is to be advertised in the Official Journal of the EU.
• Projects involving the production, processing and marketing of products ( which are not already being funded through Rural Development Contracts or Food Processing, Marketing and Co-operation Scheme) are eligible provided they meet the various LAG, SRDP and EU strategic outcomes and regulations.
• It is the policy of the Scottish Government to release information about the amounts of grant and subsidy for the new Scotland Rural Development Programme 2007-2013, this information will also be published on the Comhairle and LEADER Innse Gall website.
• It is a condition of grant that any funding received from LEADER should be clearly acknowledged in all publicity material and events.  If projects include a building or physical object, there are LEADER plaques provided at a cost of £35.00 that must be displayed, otherwise payment for logo's or alternative advertisement must be made.  All publicity costs are eligible expenditure and should be considered when detailing eligible costs in application forms.