New Moray LEADER programme launches

The new Moray LEADER programme launched at the Morayvia Aerospace Centre recently.

Around 80 people from agencies, businesses and community groups attended the launch event on 26 May to find out more about the £3.5 million fund.

Professor Sarah Skerratt from Scotland's Rural College was the guest speaker, and there were also presentations from groups that benefitted from the previous Moray LEADER programme, including Morayvia, Findhorn Bay Arts and Keith Community Radio. Musical entertainment was provided by singer-songwriter Calum Jones and acapella singing group Too Many Kooks. 

Professor Sarah Skerratt said:

"I am thrilled to be speaking at the launch of Moray LEADER. The programme will make a significant impact for individuals and across Moray for the next three years. It's going to blaze a trail as a shining example for communities to lead their local development post-2020."

The Moray LEADER programme supports communities and businesses across Moray by funding projects that contribute to economic and community development and that help to build a better future for Moray. It is managed by the Moray Local Action Group (LAG) and funded by the Scottish Government and the European Community LEADER Programme 2014-2020.

LEADER will fund innovative projects that are based in Moray, and that contribute to achieving the priorities and objectives of the Moray Local Development Strategy. Priorities for funding include Community-based, Rural Enterprise and Farm Diversification projects. Uniquely in Scotland, Moray LEADER is being run by the local Third Sector Interface, tsiMORAY.

Alastair Kennedy, Chair of Moray Local Action Group (LAG) said:

"I'm delighted that we are able to launch the new Moray LEADER programme today. This is an opportunity for people, supported by LEADER, to find innovative solutions which overcome hurdles they find in areas like building improved local supply chains for Moray foodstuffs, adapting to the future needs for a low carbon economy and helping small business survive and become sustainable. Social enterprise is already well founded here in Moray but LEADER offers an opportunity to increase that footprint and also for those involved in tourism to enhance the visitor experience. Because LEADER is a grass-roots approach it is focused on helping the people on the ground create change across Moray – and beyond – and we look forward to that being achieved."

Fabio Villani, Chief Officer of tsiMORAY said:

"We are very proud that Moray is blazing a trail as the first area in Scotland where LEADER is run by a third sector organization rather than a local authority. We are a young organization and still developing but I am confident that we have the energy, the capacity and the connections to deliver a programme of funding and support that will benefit communities, businesses and social enterprises throughout Moray."

Visit the Moray LEADER website to find out more about the programme.

Photo courtesy of InsideMoray

More about LEADER across Scotland

You can find out about LEADER across Scotland in the LEADER section of our website, where you can also submit an Expression of Interest form if you have an idea for a project.

And watch our short film below to find out more about six inspiring projects that received funding in the LEADER 2007-2013 programme.

Scottish LEADER programme - subtitled version from ScottishRuralNetwork on Vimeo.