About LEADER+
LEADER+ is the European Union’s mechanism for rural development, and is funded by the European Agriculture Guidance and Guarantee Fund (EAGGF). This is one of the ‘Structural Funds’ which also include ESF and ERDF, also handled by the Regeneration Support Team.
In England, the LEADER+ Programme is funded jointly through EAGGF and DEFRA. Each area eligible for LEADER+ has a Local Action group (LAG). The LAG manages the programme in their area, approving projects and making strategic decisions on how to use the funds allocated to them.
The Cumbria Fells and Dales LEADER+ Programme is committed to giving help and financial support to farmers and local producers who are seeking new and different ways in which they can "add value to local products". Before the outbreak of Foot and Mouth Disease, our rural areas were showing cracks. Farm incomes and agricultural employment were declining rapidly. FMD pushed the area over the edge, highlighting also the dependence tourism has on the environment.
As Cumbria moves forward a new relationship is forming between tourism and the farmed environment but the farming community needs more than that. For farming to survive, some major changes need to occur. There is a move underway to a less intensive and more environmentally friendly way of farming. A way of farming where animals do not have to travel so far; where local farmers markets thrive; where local produce also appears in farm shops and in other shops around the county; where farmers are reaping proper rewards for the environmental output of the hills (which is the foundation for tourism and Cumbrian society's quality of life).
LEADER+ takes a wide view of local produce and seeks to increase connections between local producers and rest of the community. In the past two years, we have committed over £1.5million in support to over 100 projects … and are still going strong.
LEADER+ in Cumbria is used for developing new projects that add value to locally sourced products. Grants can also be used to promote local added value products. The types of items that can be funded are listed below:
- Promotion and Publicity (not available for individual farms)
- Training, seminars, consultants, exhibitions, networks, events
- Processing and marketing costs
- Materials
- Labour costs
- Equipment
- Work space (hire or conversion)
You can find out more about LEADER+ and how to apply to Cumbria Fells and Dales LEADER+ on the Programme Website www.fellsanddales.org.uk
The role of the Regeneration Support Team in LEADER+
The RST works on behalf of the Accountable Body for the Programme, Cumbria County Council. We do not deal with applicants directly, however we receive completed applications from the LEADER+ team and check these for eligibility (always a detailed process in any European Funding!) and issue contracts once projects have been approved by the Local Action Group (LAG).
Once projects are underway, we receive claims from larger projects (projects of under £20,000 are usually dealt with by the LEADER+ team themselves) and co-ordinate payments to projects from the Accountable Body. The other side of our role is to monitor the performance of the programme and report this to the LAG at regular meetings. Our role in the fells and Dales LEADER+ Programme is co-ordinated by Kevin Little. (See Team Members)