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Comhairle nan Eilean Siar
11 February 2009 Outer Hebrides LEADER Funding Programme Applications for the new round of LEADER funding will be accepted from 2nd March 2009
and the Programme will be fully operational by late March 2009. General details of the new Programme can be found on the Scottish Government
website at www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Rural/SRDP/LEADER or by contacting the new
Leader Co-ordinator Kathlene MacDonald on 01851 709418.
A new website dedicated to
the Outer Hebrides LEADER programme will be available at a later date. LEADER is part of the Scottish Rural Development Programme (SRDP), aimed at
promoting economic and community development within rural areas. LEADER is a
grass-roots method of delivering support for rural development through implementing a
local 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. Funding is awarded by Local Action Groups ( LAGs) who take decisions on projects
which are community driven and have a wide community benefit.
Councillor Archie Campbell, Chairman of the Outer Hebrides LEADER Local Action
Group, said - “I am pleased that the new LEADER Programme for the Outer Hebrides is
now ready to start under the direction of Kathlene MacDonald. This
comprehensive new programme will provide funding for a variety of
projects and will be hugely beneficial in the next 4 years in assisting
communities and organisations with numerous projects. LEADER will
provide financial assistance at a challenging economic time for the
Islands”. Ends
Issued by Nigel Scott, Communications Officer, 01851 709389; mobile: 07884 236103 |
