What is LEADER+ ?
LEADER+ is a programme of European funding which promotes economic and community development in rural areas.
As a European Union Community Initiative, LEADER+ encourages and supports projects for local rural development with a strong emphasis on co-operation and networking between rural areas.
In Scotland, there are 13 LEADER+ areas and 13 Local Action Groups who help implement the Scottish LEADER+ programme’s overall aim of piloting and communicating innovative approaches to rural development that will promote the sustainable, environmental and social development of Scotland’s rural communities.
Responsibility for each LEADER+ area sits with a Local Action Groups made up from representatives of the rural community and local agencies which operate in the rural area.
Each Local Action Group was required to submit a bid and a business plan to the Scottish Executive outlining which of the following LEADER+ themes would be implemented in their area:
- The use of new know-how and new technologies to make the products and services of rural areas more competitive
- Adding value to local products, in particular by facilitating access to markets for small production units via collective actions
- Making the best use of natural and cultural resources, including enhancing the value of sites of community interest selected under NATURA 2000
- Improving the quality of life in rural areas
In the Lomond & Rural Stirling LEADER+ area, we were successful
in our bid to support projects which improve the quality of life in
the rural area (theme 4).
