Opportunity to shape future LEADER funding in Highland

Highland LEADER is at the final stages of developing a Local Development Strategy for the new 2014-2020 LEADER Programme which will determine the kinds of projects this funding can support over the next six years and are asking people to participate in an on-line survey.

LEADER is a European Union Community Initiative to support economic and community development within rural areas. The last LEADER programme ran from 2007-2013 and provided funding of around £14 million to 371 projects in Highland.

In order to secure funding for the next LEADER programme, a Local Development Strategy and Business Plan for Highland must now be put in place setting out how, and on what, any future funding will be spent.

Community and other stakeholder involvement is essential to help shape the next Highland LEADER Programme and to help determine the types of project that will be eligible for funding.  

To develop the strategy for the new programme, information gathered from a series of 22 community consultation events and an online survey held in June and July this year has now been consolidated.  The Highland LEADER team are now embarking on a final consultation through an on-line survey providing communities and other stakeholders with the opportunity to comment on key aspects of the Strategy and Business Plan now being drafted.

Frances Gunn of the Highland LEADER Shadow Local Action Group is keen that anyone involved or interested in rural community development in Highland participates, “Stakeholder feedback is vital to help ensure that the final plan reflects the correct funding priorities for communities in Highland so hopefully there will be a good response to the questionnaire.”    

The online survey can be found on http://tinyurl.com/highlandleader and your response must be submitted by Monday 22 September.

If you cannot access the online survey but wish to provide feedback please telephone 01463 702548.