Funding

The Outer Hebrides LEADER 2014-2020 Programme is delighted to announce the launch of their unique fund, specifically designed to support young people.

The fund is being delivered in partnership with Comhairle nan Eilean Siar and the Bridge Community Centre.

Angus and Fife LEADER had the pleasure of hosting a study party from North-Harju, Estonia, to share ideas and inspiration for local rural development projects. 

The Estonian party of 22 delegates was drawn from members of their LEADER LAG, which is involved with rural development at enterprise or community level. They were here for three days and had the opportunity to visit a range of our projects.

Applications are now being accepted for round 2 of the Social Economy Growth Fund.

The Social Economy Growth Fund will enable the third sector/social economy to improve and increase services and support for people experiencing poverty and disadvantage. It will enable social economy organisations to grow their capacity for example by creating new/expanding existing services and employing additional staff.

The Annual Implementation Report (AIR) of the Scottish Rural Development Programme (SRDP) has been published.

Covering the first three years of the 2014-2020 Programme, the full report and Summary for Citizens can be viewed on the Scottish Government website.

A new brochure highlights all the Horizon 2020 calls relating to agriculture and forestry.

The official Horizon 2020 Work Programme for 2018-2020 was released on 27 October 2017.

Horizon 2020 (H2020) aims to create solutions for problems which farmers and foresters currently face. It is the largest source of public funding for research and innovation from the European Commission with a budget of around €3.7 billion.

Over half a million pounds has been awarded to projects in the first funding round from the new Moray LEADER Programme.

The first successful projects include Macbeth-themed holiday lodges, an exciting new social enterprise hub, a major event highlighting the issue of poverty in the area and renovation work on one of Elgin's top attractions.

This week's SRDP on Film release features Skipness Smokehouse, a delicious diversification enterprise funded under the Scottish Rural Development Programme. You can watch the film below.

If you are inspired by this project, find out how to apply for funding for diversication projects under LEADER here.

The Community Capacity and Resilience Fund SCVO Phase Three is now accepting applications.

In this round of the Community Capacity and Resilience fund SCVO are looking to fund a broad range of projects and activities that support local community based organisations across Scotland to help people mitigate the effects of welfare reform by providing them with the support and skills they need.

Irene Connelly, Programme Development Manager at SCVO said:

An exciting new LEADER-funded project to increase horse-riding holidays in the Scottish Borders has received the go ahead.

Funds have now been secured to employ an equestrian tourism coordinator for 2 years. They will liaise with all relevant interests including businesses and land managers to encourage cooperation, develop marketing, improve digital mapping and to support local and longer distance rides.

Watch our latest SRDP on Film video to find out about a Scottish tea growing project.

In our Tea Gardens of Scotland film you can learn how a group of nine tea growers in Angus, Perthshire and Fife are working together to grow tea from seed. The cooperation project was funded by Angus LEADER, Rural Perth & Kinross LEADER and Fife LEADER.