LEADER is an EU and Scottish Government Programme which supports innovation, cooperation, community involvement, and sustainable rural development. It can fund up to 50% of a project’s eligible costs. So far, over £460,000 in rural funding has been awarded to nine projects across the Scottish Borders. Grants ranged from £5,500 to £93,500. 

Recent projects include a group of businesses working together to increase tourism in the Tweed Valley; a woodland skills training scheme for young unemployed people; and improvements to Eyemouth harbour to help increase tourism. 

There are two more application deadlines in 2009: 5 June and 11 September. Bryan McGrath, Chair of the LEADER ‘Decision Making Group’ said: “The LEADER Programme provides much needed support for improving our rural quality of life and the local economy. It encourages people to develop new ideas and find innovative solutions to the challenges we all face in rural areas.”

Get in touch for support and advice, and more information on LEADER. Either visit our website: scottishbordersleader.co.uk or contact the LEADER Coordinator on 01835 826661.

Roadshows will be held in Peebles (24 Feb 2009); Kelso (25 Feb 2009); Selkirk (26 Feb 2009).

Contact Lyndsey Kelly on 01835 824000 ext 5419 to book a place.

• 6 March 2009
• 5 June 2009
• 11 September 2009

The Decision Making Group will meet approximately 6 weeks later to discuss applications.

LEADER is an EU and Scottish Government Programme, which supports new projects that result in innovation, cooperation, community involvement, and sustainable rural development.  The Scottish Borders LEADER Programme has two main themes - “Progressive Rural Economy” and “Revitalising Rural Communities”.  All project proposals must show how they contribute to these themes. 

Examples of LEADER projects could include support for cooperation between farmers to develop a wildlife tourism project, or help for a group of businesses to develop local food products, or assistance for cultural activities including events and festivals.

Councillor Vicky Davidson, Executive Member for Economic Development, said: “I would urge all rural, community and business groups to sit down and think ‘outside the box’ about what could be done to revitalise their community or add more value to local rural businesses.  Even if the idea is not fully worked up the LEADER Coordinator will be only too happy to talk it through and see if a workable project can be developed”.

LEADER can fund up to 50% of a project’s eligible costs.  Projects based in Hawick or Galashiels, which have populations of over 10,000, will need to demonstrate strong links to the surrounding rural areas to be eligible for support.

Grants are awarded quarterly and the deadline for the next round of applications is 24 October 2008.

Further information is available from Maria Mackenzie, LEADER Coordinator, c/o Scottish Borders Council, email scotbordersleader@scotborders.gov.uk or tel. 01835 826661.

Grants of up to 50 per cent of a project’s costs are available from LEADER. Projects have to meet certain criteria, including that they should test a new idea in the Scottish Borders and benefit young people, women, small businesses and people who are isolated or live in more remote rural areas in the Borders.

The types of project that can be supported include new tourism projects, cultural events, training courses, businesses services, new rural community services, youth projects and many others.   

Applicants can be local community groups, business consortiums, agencies or organisations.  Projects can take place within the Scottish Borders, or can be developed in partnership with other regions and other European rural areas.   

Councillor Vicky Davidson, Executive Member for Economic Development, said: “The previous LEADER+ programme was hugely successful and was recognised at national level for the quality of the project development here in the Scottish Borders. I hope this programme will be just as successful.”

The new LEADER Programme is funded by the European Union (EU) and Scottish Government.

The programme offers grants for local projects with the aim of strengthening the rural economy and making rural communities stronger. 

LEADER projects can be developed by local groups, businesses, agencies or organisations and can be large or small. Grants of between £1,000 and £80,000 are available. Projects can take place within the Scottish Borders or can be developed in partnership with other regions and other European rural areas.  

The types of project which can be supported include new tourism projects, cultural events, training courses, businesses services, new rural community services, youth projects and many others. 

The themes for the new LEADER Programme are ‘Progressive Rural Economy’ and ‘Revitalising Rural Communities’ and projects should be able to demonstrate how they contribute to these themes. More information and guidance is available from Sam Smith, Rural Development Officer, Scottish Borders Council on 01835 826539 or visit www.scotborders.gov.uk/newleader

Councillor Vicky Davidson, Executive Member for Economic Development, said: ”The previous LEADER+ programme was hugely successful and was recognised at national level for the quality of the project development here in the Scottish Borders. These projects led to 46 new jobs being created, 147 new community facilities, 4,099 Borders residents gaining new skills or being re-skilled and more than 54,000 visitors attracted to various new tourism activities including the 222 local events and festivals supported.”

The Scottish Government and European Union have now confirmed funding of £2.33million for a new LEADER Programme in the Scottish Borders.  The Programme is expected to be launched and open to applications as early as May 2008.   

The new LEADER Programme will support projects that result in innovation, cooperation, community involvement and sustainable rural development.  Funding will be available under two main themes – Progressive Rural Economy and Revitalising Rural Communities. 

As the funding is primarily for rural areas, projects based in Hawick and Galashiels, which have populations of over 10,000, would need to demonstrate strong links to the surrounding rural areas to be eligible for support.

The new funding package will be distributed through the Scottish Borders LEADER Local Action Group (LAG) – a partnership between public agencies and various local organisations, including Tweed Forum, National Farmers’ Union Scotaland, Borders Forest Trust, Scottish Borders Community Council Network and Youth Borders.

Projects which could be eligible for funding include support for cooperation between farmers to develop a wildlife tourism project; support for a group of businesses to develop local food products or support for cultural activities including events and festivals.

Sam Smith, Rural Development Officer at Scottish Borders Council, said: “This is great news for rural communities in the Scottish Borders.  The success of the bid is a result of the forward-looking vision and hard work of a large number of rural partners over the last year.”

Bryan McGrath, Chair of the LEADER ‘Decision Making Group’ said: “The new LEADER Programme will provide much needed support for improving rural quality of life and the economy in the Scottish Borders.  It will encourage people to develop new ideas and find innovative solutions in rural areas.”