UK LEADER+ Newsletter - IPPR · UK LEADER+ Newsletter AUTUMN 2006 Poverty in Rural Areas Country Focus – England RDAs and Northern Ireland Consultation Thematic Focus – Social

UK LEADER+ NewsletterAUTUMN 2006

Poverty in Rural Areas

Country Focus –England RDAs and

Northern IrelandConsultation

Thematic Focus –Social Enterprise

LEADER+ in Republic of Ireland

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To many who don’t live here, the ruralUnited Kingdom creates images of cottageswith roses round the door and tranquillandscapes. Whilst these do exist, thereality is much more complex and in manyrural areas people who live and work thereface disadvantages in the labour marketand economy.

This problem is now being recognisedacross the UK after years of neglect, butthere are still important debates about howsuch problems should be tackled. JaneMidgley from IPPR North outlines some ofher ideas having looked at this topic insome depth across the country. Later welook at the role of social enterprises, seenas a potential tool for tackling exclusion and harnessing local enterprise and talent.In England, the Regional DevelopmentAgencies are playing an increasinglyimportant role and Fiona Bryant (from EEDAbut who also has a national brief) outlinessome of their thinking about LEADER in thepost 2007 context. We then look at howthe LEADER+ LAG in North Northumberlandis working with One North East. An update isprovided on the Northern Irelandconsultation process and we continue ourinternational perspective through anoverview of LEADER+ in the Republic ofIreland.

If you seek further information about theLEADER+ Network or would likeparticipation in an event or publication,please do not hesitate to contact me.

David Jepson

Director, UK LEADER+ Network Unit

The importance of people’s wellbeing andtheir participation in local communities runsthrough many current political debates andpolicy responses. Many rural communitieswithin the UK and across Europe throughthe LEADER+ programme have been, andare, at the forefront of developing effective‘bottom-up’ participation and communalinvolvement in response to local needs.

The significance of improving the quality oflife within rural areas has been underlined bythe popularity of this priority theme chosenby local action groups (LAGs). Indeed,LAGs’ actions have been vital in maintainingand increasing the levels of social andcultural capital during a period of continuedchange and stresses placed on rural andwider local economies. This is no small feat.Some would argue that communalparticipation, organised in a way that islocally meaningful, and enabling people todirectly take part in decisions that affecttheir lives has helped to increase socialinclusion.

Yet research shows that it is often thoseindividuals and households that are mostdisadvantaged that are also often excludedfrom, or rather do not actively participate in,local and community organisations. Sowhile local participation may be increased,participation should not be seen as an endin itself; how participation and involvementextends beyond the projects life also has tobe considered, underlining the need forrealistic expectations of what can beachieved. Likewise care has to be taken asto who participates and the decisions madein response; can they reflect theexperiences of other people and interests,or are those who have always had a say (no matter who or what they claim to berepresenting) still dominant?

There is still a real risk that even whenpoverty within rural communities isrecognised – and given that approximatelyone quarter of children, elderly households,and high proportions of households in workare living in poverty this continues to be avery real feature of rural life across the UK –

responses from local communities may stilloverlook needs, however inadvertently.Consequently, responses to rural povertystill need to be included within national‘mainstream’ anti-poverty measures.Indeed, national welfare policy, such asworking family’s tax credit for in-work low-income households, may well haveimproved the situation for many ruralhouseholds without ‘special’ rural measuresbeing involved. What rural communitiesshouldn’t be afraid of admitting is thatsometimes national, or in policy parlance‘universal’ and ‘mainstream’, approachescan help and are appropriate.

Much of the above may well be words to thewise, but in rural communities poverty andexclusion are still as real as ever. However,while national policy clearly has an importantrole to play, so too does local actionundertaken to confront poverty and socialexclusion, recognising and working with thediversity of rural areas and circumstancesthat actions are embedded within. Oneattribute of LEADER+ that may help this isits focus on specific groups who mayexperience a broader poverty of opportunity,namely women and young people.

Tackling Poverty in Rural AreasPreface


The focus on young people is even morecritical as UK rural debates becomedominated by issues of affordable housingand the ageing of the countryside lookingtowards older residents’ needs. However, ifrural communities are to have a successfulfuture they, along with rural policy makers at national and regional levels, need to offer young people opportunities to stayliving and working in the local area. Byencouraging more diversified ruraleconomies, complemented by actions thatsupport improved access to education andtraining, a range of employmentopportunities, and perhaps more importantlycareers, can be established enabling youngpeople who want to stay in rural areas tomove beyond low-wage and low-skilledwork that is often the norm for this group.

This last example typifies the continuedneed for increased integration betweenpolicy areas for successful ruraldevelopment. Encouraging integrated ruraldevelopment is perhaps one of LEADER+’senduring attributes. LEADER+ has shownthat it is possible to bring together social,economic and environmental perspectives; achallenge rarely met as issues compete forpolicy attention and associated resources.

Traditionally the environmental or economichave dominated rural debates, and otherissues such as social inclusion had to fit inaround them. The need to maintain such anintegrated and holistic approach is evidentas we move towards the next phase of ruraldevelopment programming in Europe during2007-13. This is paramount to improving thequality of life for rural people and diversifyingrural economies, but also to ensure as theLEADER approach becomes more widelyadopted that steps forward are made sothat agriculture and the environment do notonce again dominate rural development tothe detriment of wider social needs. After all,successful rural development mustencompass change and embrace futurechallenges.

Jane Midgley Research Fellow ippr north

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For more information on the Institute forPublic Policy’s rural research pleasecontact Jane at [email protected] orvisit the ippr website www.ippr.org/where publications, including ‘A NewRural Agenda’ and ‘Should I stay orshould I go? Rural youth transitions’ areavailable to download.


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Fiona Bryant is NationalRDA Modernising RuralDelivery (MRD) Director,working across all nineof England’s RegionalDevelopment Agencies(RDAs), to implementthe Government’sagenda to modernise

the delivery of rural policy. One aspect beingmanaged by Fiona is the arrangements forthe delivery of the socio-economic strandsof the new Rural Development Programmefor England (RDPE) which will start in 2007.Over the last year Fiona has participated inseveral LEADER Network events and hasplayed an important role in developing theapproach for LEADER post 2006. Inaddition, on a personal basis, Fiona has along standing involvement with rural issues.Fiona and her husband farm nearCambridge, she is a governor of RASE andan Executive Director of a company involvedwith farming, forestry, tourism, leisure,renewable energy and community interests.

David Jepson, LEADER+ Network Director,discussed some key issues with herrecently.

DJ: After many years of relative neglect, itwould seem that rural development is nowmore central to public policy in England,what would you see as the main challengesand opportunities ahead?

FB: These are transformational times forrural England. The structure of the ruraleconomy is changing, bringing moreopportunities than ever before, but alsomore challenges and uncertainty for some.Rural England is making a significant andincreasing contribution to the economicprosperity of UK plc and it is important thatpublic policy enables everyone to benefitfrom that prosperity.

The Government’s approach to deliveringsupport to rural areas is also changing, witha new structure of agencies being put inplace. The role of RDAs in rural areas isincreasing and we are clear on ourapproach; mainstream policy needs to beused to achieve sustainable economicdevelopment in rural areas rather thancreating separate rural programmes whichtreat rural areas differently. RDAs intend toalign the funding available through RDPEwith mainstream funding and ensure that itis used to fill any gaps which are provingdetrimental to rural areas.

We believe that the opportunity exists tocreate a customer-focused system ofdelivering policy, based on strategic, long-term, investment planning and localdelivery. The opportunity exists to integratewith other support and to bend mainstreampolicy and spend to ensure it bringssustainable economic prosperity to ruralareas. The challenges will be convincingpartners that mainstream policy is the way

forward for rural development; ensuring thatmainstream policy is shaped and deliveredin a manner which responds to the needs ofrural locations; and ensuring that partnerslook across the spectrum of public policy forsolutions, not just at funding streamslabelled as ‘rural’.

DJ: How do you see the role of the LEADERapproach contributing to this?

FB: LEADER is a community-based bottom-up approach that provides opportunities forlocal communities to identify their needs anddevise sustainable solutions. It is a deliverytool which offers a real opportunity to deliveran integrated approach across the threeAxes in the new RDPE (two of which aresocio-economic and one of which ispredominantly environmental). Consisting of a public-private partnership at local level, the LEADER approach also provides a goodopportunity to align funding streams on theground and to deliver a much wider range ofpublic sector funding than just RDPE. Thisapproach fits with the RDAs’ intention tocreate a customer-focused system ofdelivering policy, based on strategic, long-term, investment planning and localdelivery and we believe it has real potentialto deliver joined-up benefits to ruralcommunities. We will be looking to localgroups to identify long-term priorities forinvestment in their area and to match thosepriorities to the funding available throughRDPE or to mainstream sources of fundingto ensure a cohesive package ofregeneration activity is put in place.

Crossing stepping stones at Stainforth, North Yorkshire

Fiona Bryant

An interview with the National RDAModernising Rural Delivery Director

England Focus


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DJ: What are the challenges for the“mainstreaming” of LEADER+ from nextyear?

FB: The main challenge for the LEADERapproach from next year will be ensuringthat it delivers across all Axes and delivers agenuinely integrated approach. RDAs view itas vital that the LEADER approach is usedto deliver funds from all three Axes to allowjoined-up projects to be developed anddelivered, and we are already in discussionswith Natural England on how to achieve this.With 80% of the funding being directed in toAxis 2, the environmental axis, and alreadyextensively committed through the EntryLevel Scheme, this can be done but willrequire some innovative thinking. We will beworking with partners to develop the mosteffective approaches possible.

Getting the composition of the Local ActionGroups right will also be important to ensurethe Groups have the skills to take a strategiclook at long-term investment needs and tomatch them to both RDPE and mainstreamfunding streams to maximise the potential ofthe funds. The Groups need to berepresentative and able to think wider thanjust RDPE funds. Work will commence in theautumn to determine which areas will be

covered by the LEADER approach and,within those areas, whether there is alreadyan existing group which can take on theLEADER role (e.g. an existing Market TownPartnership, Rural Renaissance Partnership,LEADER+ Group, Sub-Regional Partnershipetc.) or whether a new group needs to beestablished. Hence there will be a variety ofmodels, all respecting the overall principlesof LEADER, but in a variety of contexts andrelationships to suit regional and sub-regional circumstances. The challenge willbe to manage the number of groups whichexist to deliver different aspects ofgovernment policy and it is hoped that theLocal Action Groups which will be put inplace will be able to deliver a range offunding and government agendas.

It is important to recognise that there will beno LEADER programme as such, but thatthe LEADER approach will be mainstreamedinto the wider context. It is important not tolose the skills, experience and capacitywhich has been developed, but the LEADERapproach needs to be more integrated withother EU and UK interventions to ensuremore impact overall.

DJ: How does the LEADER approach fit intowider policy agenda?

FB: LEADER’s community-based bottom-upapproach has real potential to fit into thewider policy agenda. The RDAs have beenusing a devolved approach to delivery for awhile now, recognising the benefits localknowledge and experience can bring indetermining priorities for investment anddeveloping integrated solutions. Local AreaAgreements, which seek to ensurealignment of local priorities and resources,are increasing the focus on communitiesand the Local Government White Paperexpected in the autumn is likely to placefurther responsibilities on communities. Thatsaid, if Local Action Groups are to capitaliseon the significant opportunities which areemerging, then they need to look widely,think innovatively and be prepared tocontribute to the greater integration indelivery wherever possible.

For more information please contact:

Fiona Bryant

t: 01223 484534

e: [email protected]

www.eeda.org.uk

Audley End Gardens, Essex


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England Focus

ONE NorthEast (the Regional DevelopmentAgency for the North East) sits on theregional Programme Monitoring Committeeand encouraged discussion, along with thetwo existing LEADER+ groups in the region,of how the LEADER method could beapplied to the future needs of the ruralareas.

As part of that discussion it was agreed tocommission an evaluation of the currentLEADER+ programmes. A range of funderscontributed to the cost with over halfcoming from the RDA. A broad-basedSteering Group of 12 was set up to managethe project – this included representativesfrom the two LEADER+ groups.

One NorthEast acted as hosts for theSteering Group and there was a very opendiscussion on the issues emerging from theevaluation and the final report.

Upon completion of the evaluation, anumber of options were laid out for takingLEADER forward and after detaileddiscussions amongst the relevantorganisations a preferred option was agreed.

The evaluation showed that the principalconcern for the future would be theconstrained budget. This is likely to belimited by both the North East of Englandallocation, the split proposed between theAxes, and the prior commitments underAxes one and three which the RDA mustdeliver. Therefore the evaluationrecommended to involve a small butmainstreamed ‘partnership approach’ usingthe LEADER method across a range offunding streams. This partnership approachwas considered to be the best option tofollow in order to secure development fundsfor rural areas in the future. The SteeringGroup also felt that this option had thegreatest potential to progress the LEADERmethod, with a view to evolving itsimplementation through the wholeprogramming period so that it becomes fullyincorporated into mainstream ruraldevelopment post 2013.

Resourcing of this option will be restricteduntil 2009 by which time there should begreater flexibility in funding although therewill be a degree of overlap with the run outof the current programme up to the end of

2008. The period between now and 2009 isto be used to develop the structures,engagement and governance processes.How it can happen and the costs involvedare questions being discussed at themoment.

A new Steering Group has been set up todrive through the recommended course ofaction and hopefully it can act as a catalystfor the development of delivery agenciesthat will take the LEADER method forward inthe North East.


North Northumberland LEADER+

t: 01668 283898


North Northumberland LEADER+ and ONE NorthEast

Views across the North Northumberland LEADER+ region

The evaluation was undertaken by the Rural Development Company. For more information please contact John Grievet: 01356 626490e: [email protected]


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Northern Ireland Focus

DARD Consultation

The Northern Ireland LEADER Network(NILN) has now formally submitted adetailed response to the DARD consultationon the proposed Northern Ireland RuralDevelopment Programme 2007-2013. Thisfollows a series of discussions, surveys andseminars facilitated jointly between theNorthern Ireland LEADER Network and theUK LEADER Network’s Northern IrelandCountry Desk. The Northern IrelandLEADER Network is a voluntary network ofall Northern Ireland’s LAGs. It is currentlychaired by Hugh O’Neill (LEADER Director,Newry and Mourne).

The NILN has urged that a timetabled planbe published as soon as possible for theimplementation of the 2007-2013 RuralDevelopment Programme because “agradual approach will result in a gap indelivery”. The upcoming reform of publicadministration in Northern Ireland isdescribed as an opportunity for a “redesignof the rural policy landscape” in which LocalAuthorities can have a much moresignificant role in the delivery and

implementation of the 2007-2013 RuralDevelopment Programme; with existing LAGstructures providing the foundation for newLocal Authority-led partnership structures.In terms of the geographical demarcation ofLEADER eligible areas the NILN has calledon DARD to recognise the important role ofsmall and medium-sized towns incontributing to the “competitive advantageof rural space”.

In its response the NILN has proposed thatSIMPLER principles underpin the delivery ofthe 2007-2013 Northern Ireland RuralDevelopment Programme: there should be asingle strategic programme (S) which isintegrated (I) and multi-faceted rather thannarrow in its focus (M), which supports theprinciple of partnerships (P) delivering theprogramme at a local level ensuring localaccountability (L) and that the programmehas empathy (E) with rural dwellers.However, the resourcing of these localpartnerships must be realistic (R) given thechallenges facing rural communities duringthe programme period.

This delivery framework, which is describedas a “harmonisation model”, envisagesLAGs as a platform for harmonising thedelivery of Government programmes in ruralNorthern Ireland and the “rural-proofing” ofGovernment policy. Co-ordinatingGovernment support in this way wouldaddress the complaint that projectpromoters were being passed from oneagency or delivery structure to anotherwithin a maze of wasteful bureaucracy.

The NILN has also proposed that the 2007-2013 Rural Development Programme shouldnot prescribe the type of activities or groupswhich would be eligible for support. Ratherprojects should be evaluated on theirexpected impact within rural society and therural economy. Inter-territorial co-operationshould be prioritised in the new Programme,with LAGs able to access a pool of expertswhose task it would be to catalyse co-operation projects between regions. Alllevels of inter-territorial co-operation shouldbe encouraged, including experienceexchange visits.

The NILN makes a plea that “the nowconsiderable LEADER experience (oraccumulation of LEADER I, LEADER II ANDLEADER+)” is not lost, contending that the“success story” of LEADER+ in NorthernIreland is the product of that experience.

The NILN has urged that in the future farmfamilies should be facilitated to play a moredirect role in the “creation and furtherunfolding of rural development activities”.“Local food economies” are also proposedas a means by which “the quality of lifewithin Northern Ireland’s rural areas” couldbe improved.

Copies of the NILN’s comprehensive 52-page submission can be obtained from Miceal McCoy.


Miceal McCoy

Newry and Mourne LEADER Manager


Donaghadee Harbour, at sunrise, the closest point in Northern Ireland to Scotland.


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North Antrim LEADER+ held the first ever“Festival of Sheep and Wool” in NorthernIreland at the Ballymena Livestock Marketon Friday 25th and Saturday 26th August2006.

The two day event celebrating “sheepculture” was part of an Action 2 project withLEADER+ partners from Cumbria (Fells andDales) and Wales (Glasu). Its overall aim wasto highlight the importance of Sheep andWool products in the rural economy.

An enormous range of people in the sheepand wool sector were brought togetherthrough this event: from hill sheep farmers toproducers of specialist retail products. TheBritish Wool Board and representatives fromthe Department of Agriculture & RuralDevelopment also participated

Whilst sheep farming has been described asan industry in decline, it is still very importantin North Antrim. Indeed the Glens of Antrimwere, until the foot and mouth crisis, themost densely populated sheep area inWestern Europe.

Unfortunately wool has become a low valuecommodity, with sale prices only justmatching the cost of shearing. One aim ofthe Festival of Sheep and Wool was to lookat niche markets for wool. While acceptingthat this event would not solve everyproblem in the wool industry, the LAGpartners believed it was important todemonstrate that value could be added incertain areas: especially to fleeces and byre-establishing connections between sheepfarmers and the woodcraft industry.

45 exhibitors from all over Ireland, Scotland,Wales and England attended the event.There were also specialist seminars andworkshops on topics such as:

• How to treat your sheepskin

• Weaving and spinning

• Sheep breeding

as well as on more diverse topics such as“stress relief”.

The event was organised by North AntrimLEADER+, assisted by an event Manager,Julie McCaughan, and guided by a steeringgroup of local farmers and LEADER+activists. The local Young Farmers club wasalso heavily involved.

As a result of this, LEADER+ and thefarming sector were able to directly engagewith each other. A significant level of co-operation and networking was made

possible, not just locally within North Antrim,but between rural communities in NorthernIreland, Wales and England.

North Antrim LEADER+ Manager, AndrewMcAllister said: “Organising an event on thisscale was really hard work. The steeringgroup and LEADER+ staff had to commit alot of voluntary time to make it a reality. Itwas, however, a tremendous way of bringingtogether various rural sectors – farmers,craftspeople, statutory agencies andcommunity activists. Feedback fromexhibitors and visitors has been very positivewith many appealing that this be made anannual event.”

Andrew added that the event could not havebeen delivered by LEADER+ alone.Sponsorship, particularly from Ulster WoolGrowers and Ballymena Borough Council,not only provided vital financial support butbroadened the appeal of the event.


Andrew McAlister

North Antrim LEADER+

t: 028 21772138


www.northantrimleader.org

North Antrim Festival of Sheep and Wool

Spinners during the festival

Delegates look around Sheep and Wool festival at Ballymena

Northern Ireland Focus


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The East Tyrone Rural LEADER company’sRural Markets Programme has assisted localproducers to direct-sell their producethrough a joint venture company, TyroneFarmers’ Market. The markets have sinceattracted additional funding from the RuralDevelopment Council. A project officer willwork with producers and organises afarmers’ market which will rotate betweensix village venues. In addition, theprogramme will involve thirty local primaryschools in an initiative to generateawareness of healthy eating and local foodand fifteen new producers will be enabled tobring their produce direct to market.

The Rural Markets Project began life underLEADER II. Then marquees/stalls werepurchased so that local food producerscould have a regular presence atCookstown’s existing thriving Saturdaystreet market to sell fresh local produce.However, the project failed to attractsufficient numbers of local food producers –on average only six or seven producersused the stalls on a regular basis. As aresult it was discontinued.

Subsequently, Dungannon and South TyroneBorough Council undertook to support thedevelopment of sustainable agriculturewithin the Borough by identifying andpromoting market opportunities for localproducers. A Dungannon monthly marketbegan in December 2002, at first located inthe car park of the local Tesco store, on thebasis that produce sold at the market wouldcomplement that sold by Tescos.

However, it once again proved difficult to getlocal producers to organise to run anddevelop the market(s) themselves. Theresult: this project was also in jeopardy untilthe East Tyrone Rural (ETR) LEADER+ groupbecame involved in 2003 and assistedproducers to set up the Tyrone Farmers’Markets (TFM) as a limited company. ETRfurther assisted TFM to develop and expandthe direct-selling of their produce at themarkets with support for innovative marketpromotion, tailored mentoring, training, andthe identification of best practice. Capitalgrant-aid from ETR was provided toproducers to enhance facilities at themarkets and to support individual producerswith the purchase of equipment so that theycould expand their businesses and addvalue to products. A second market nowtakes place in Dungannon Square on amonthly basis.

The profile gained by their presence at themarkets along with the support from ETRhas enabled some producers to developtheir home-based orders and set up on-farmshops (Cloughbane Farm Shop and Linda’sbakery, for example).

While the Tyrone Farmers’ Market is nowwell established at the Tesco site inDungannon, it now needs to take measuresto ensure its viability and sustainability. ETRis keen to assist the Company to helpestablish linkages with other markets and toinvestigate the viability of extending therotation of markets to a larger group ofvillage venues. A promotional campaign isalso being worked on which will emphasisethe importance of farmers markets inproviding access to local, healthy produce.

For more information please contact

Drew Robinson

East Tyrone LEADER+

t: 028 86764714


www.easttyronerural.co.uk

Customers enjoy the local produce at Tyrone’s farmers’ market

Tyrone Farmers’ Market


Communities in rural areas have beenincreasingly interested in taking over localbusinesses that would otherwise close,leaving those areas lacking importantservices.

A key approach to enabling communities tomaintain these operations is throughestablishing a Rural Social Enterprise, abody which focuses more on communitybenefits than economic returns. One of itsbenefits is to reduce dependence on grantsand donations.

At the beginning of 2005, DEFRA launchedEnterprise for Inclusion (E4I), which includeda £1m+ grants programme for projectswishing to undertake new activities usingsocial enterprise approaches to tackle socialexclusion in rural areas.

The evidence from the E4I programme mayoffer some pointers to rural areas aiming toencourage the development of socialenterprises as part of the new RuralDevelopment Programme running from2007. The E4I programme showed thatonce established, rural social enterpriseshad a significant effect on service provisionfor socially excluded groups. There was alsoevidence that most of the projectssupported had the potential to be financiallysustainable, albeit with volunteer supportfrom their community and grants formingpart of the enterprise model. But the abilityof many of the enterprise projects to engagelarge numbers of volunteers not only helpedthem achieve economic viability but wasalso was a basis for tackling exclusion andisolation by drawing all of a communitytogether.

However, social enterprise projects foundthat they needed sustained support whichhad to be skilled and experienced in socialenterprise models. It should also haveempathy with the aims of the communitiesimplementing a project.

One of the conclusions from those workingon the E4I programme was the importanceof having a network of agencies workingcollaboratively who were in a position torespond to groups in a rural communitywhen they have an idea. In this section welook at some examples of how LEADER+has supported social enterprises.


Kevin Maton

t: 02476 461 835


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Social Enterprise: The heart of rural regeneration?

Thematic Focus

The Footprint Trust on the Isle of Wightpromotes sustainable development and thereduction of the ecological footprint of theIoW. The IoW Economic Partnership whichaims to improve quality of life for islandpeople by developing the economy, creatingnew jobs and improving the environment,introduced the Trust to LEADER+. With theirhelp the Trust was able to secure funds forinitial costs which included a paid memberof staff to help deliver their aims.

This initial funding enabled work to be doneto encourage recycling, the reduction ofwaste and a programme of environmentaleducation. The latter has evolved into aproject called GreenLife that promotessustainable living through the three ‘R’s(refuse, reuse and recycle) and encouragingbetter use of resources, by conservingenergy and water.

This LEADER+ funded project works with awide range of communities through schools,churches and community groups and atevents such as village meetings and fêtes.One of the more popular ways of getting theIsland population to be more energy efficienthas been through giving away energy savinglight bulbs and water saving devices (suchas those aimed to reduce water used in thetoilet flush and known as ‘boghogs’). Up tothe end of 2005 they had given away 3,000bulbs amounting to a saving of 400,000 kwh,

equivalent to about £30,000 of energy. Thewater saving devices have saved 12m litresof water a year!

Following that initial LEADER+ funding theTrust now employs two people andgenerates additional funds through othergrant sources and income from theiractivities. The Trust is run by a Board ofDirectors and an Advisory Group helpsensure that the Trust’s principles aremaintained and that it is working to a robustbusiness plan.

The Footprint Trust

Riverside Centre,

Newport, Isle of Wight

PO30 2QR

t: 01983 822282


www.footprint-trust.co.uk

www.iwep.com

Footprint Trust Isle of Wight


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West OxfordshireVillage Shops

TVSA Village Shop Finstock

A major issue in rural areas is the loss of keyfacilities such as the Village Store or PostOffice. In West Oxfordshire the response tosuch a crisis has been to look towardsestablishing community owned andcontrolled enterprises.

Oxfordshire Rural Community Councilappointed a Village Shops DevelopmentWorker, Jane Barker, a key element in thesuccessful development of theseenterprises. Other key factors have been thenetwork of support agencies, includingthose with specialist knowledge of financingcommunity enterprises combined withcommitted local residents.

Expertise from the Village Rural ServicesAssociation – ViRSA (www.virsa.org), theRural Community Council and LEADER+has also been crucial. It was found thatgeneric business development advice isoften not enough to provide the keyanswers needed by communities looking toset up a community-owned business sincethe objectives are not only financial but alsosocial.

Once the concept was shown to have beensuccessful, interest in the idea in othervillages snowballed.

The three shops that have received fundingare:

• Tackley Village Shop and Post Office: set up by the local village group as part ofmajor redevelopment and improvement ofthe Village Hall. The Tackley ‘All in One’project includes a coffee bar, children’splay area and changing facilities as well asthe Hall and Shop

• Ascott Village Shop: a village grouppurchased premises as part of a newbuilding development and opened acommunity shop in Nov 2003. LEADER+funding was used to buy equipment forthe shop.

• TVSA Village Shop and Post Office: thelocal group leases the premises from thelocal pub. The group paid for completerefurbishment of the building and theshop and Post Office opened in Dec 2004

All three shops are progressing well andturnover is increasing. They employbetween them three full-time staff, six part-time staff and nearly 100 volunteers.

The volunteers who assist in the shop carryout a wide variety of tasks including beingmanagement committee members, shopassistants, bookkeepers, cleaners, buyers,deliverers.

LEADER+ has played a key role, not just infunding but in helping with training and co-operation links to other areas such asgroups in Dorset. One of the other benefitsof the community shops is the boost to thesupply of local food, another key LEADER+objective.


Caroline Bellanger


Jane Barker



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Project surroundings at Houghton

The Houghton Project

Thematic focus

The therapeutic working environment alsohelps the students to develop personalmotivation understand the basic principlesof industrial practice through workinvolvement and gain an understanding ofhealth safety and appropriate behaviour in avariety of work and social contexts.

In little over a year Houghton Farm hastransformed itself with a new meetingroom/kitchen; an office dedicated to theproject; a dairy room is nearing completion;a minibus; many constructed buildings forthe animals and an organic vegetablegarden.

Commenting on the formation of SocialEnterprises through LEADER, Dawn Turnerthe Programme Manager at HerefordshireRivers LEADER+ said “It’s not thatLEADER+ is particularly prohibitive tosupporting social enterprises but as thedevelopment of them has been a relatively

The Herefordshire Rivers LEADER+programme has supported theestablishment and development of the socialenterprise, The Houghton Project,

The Houghton Project is a Care Farm whichprovides a variety of training (animalhusbandry, horticulture, cheese-making,woodland management, woodland craftsetc ) for a very wide client group, includingpeople with learning disabilities, mentalhealth problems, excluded pupils, and awhole range of service users from the FEColleges in Hereford. They have recentlysecured a Service Level Agreement withHerefordshire Council Social Services andhave become financially sustainable within ayear, employing 2.5 full time staff.

At the farm, the focus is placed on enablingpeople to realise their strengths thereforeencouraging them to reclaim some personalpower.

new area in regeneration it could be more todo with a lack of knowledge about thedifferent structures and how they canoperate. We have been lucky inHerefordshire having a dedicated SocialEnterprise Officer at Herefordshire Councilwho has been a great support to thedevelopment of many successful socialenterprises in Herefordshire, including aCredit Union and the Herefordshire FarmersMarket Group.”


Tim James-Moore

t: 01568 797900


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dances and street games from bothcountries. In the lead up to the festival, localschools staged Maypole dancing workshopsas well as learning how to play traditionalstreet games. Everything they learnt wasdescribed online so that the Hungarianscould read about it.

During the festival, the main events were ajoint flower float in the ‘Spalding FlowerParade’ and the ‘Mayfayres’ Day (1st May)when a Maypole dancing competition,traditional Anglo/Hungarian street gameactivities and traditional Hungarian dancingtook place in the Spalding Town centrethroughout the day.

The festival was followed in August by a visitto Hungary where the Youth Theatreperformed their production of ‘Wind in theWillows’. The play was rehearsed and firstperformed in the Lincolnshire Fenlands areabefore the group left and members of theHungarian group also took part in the

The Lincolnshire Fenland LEADER+ LAG isworking closely with a LAG in the BukkiHegyhat region of Hungary. The projectconcerned is called the “Four Seasons”project and will have three phases. Phase 1,which is now underway, aims to encourageand develop social cohesion and to improveyoung people’s quality of life by exploringtechnology, culture, heritage and localidentities. Total project cost (to LincolnshireFens): £121,000 (EAGGF £60,500, Defra£12,417).

The first project activity in April was to hosta Hungarian group of young people from theregion. The group included members of theiryouth council (shortly to celebrate its tenthanniversary), dancers from three differentgroups in the area and teachers. The grouptogether with young people from theLincolnshire Fenland LEADER+ area tookpart in the Spalding Flower festival and MayDay celebrations focussed on traditional folk

The Lincolnshire Fenland Four Seasons Project

The Hungarian guests perform their traditional dances in Spalding

Project News

production. In addition the visit was to allowthe respective Youth Councils to continuethe workshops started in April and to shareknowledge and experience before theydeveloped a timetable of actions for phases2 and 3.

There are further joint project activitiesplanned for both Hungarian and Englishlocal residents to participate in. Theseinclude myths and legends, arts and craftsventures focussed on ‘DifferentPerspectives’ where both areas will holdsessions/workshops enabling local residentsto represent local stories and how they seetheir village and area through a variety ofmediums. Art and Craft work, together withpoetry and photography, will be exhibitedlocally in both countries before a jointexhibition in Hungary in November 2006(also to be exhibited online).

Phases 2 and 3 are for years 2007 and2008 and work, with much input from theyouth councils of both countries, is now wellunder way on developing these projectproposals. The combined LincolnshireFenland budget for these further phases is£107,900 (EAGGF: £53,950 and Defra£17,800).


John Boyer


www.lincsfenland.org.uk


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The North Highland LEADER+ Programmehad an Action 2 allocation of £359,800divided between measure 1 transregional(60% or £231,300) and measure 2transnational co-operation (40% or£154,200). The programme has focused onjoint projects which support and involveyoung people, increased socio-economicbenefits from the natural and culturalheritage and harness individual andcommunity creativity.

Transregional Projects

The majority of transregional funds havebeen used to support projects which delivernatural/cultural heritage outputs. Forexample, assistance was provided toScottish Native Woods to develop woodlandcatchment plans (community land basedmanagement/development plans forwoodland along river catchment areas) withfour local communities across Lochaber andNorth Highland, while Reforesting Scotlandsecured £3,000 to develop a suite ofmaterials to encourage people with varyingabilities to access and understand thewoodland environment. A trainingprogramme for community land owninggroups has also been supported

LEADER+ also supported two highlyacclaimed and innovative projects. The first,Aig an Oir (Arts and the Atlantic oakwoodland), created a unique suite ofpaintings of Scotland’s Atlantic oakwoodsby local and national artists through a seriesof events, revealing the importance of theseinternationally significant habitats.

For the second project, the dramatic naturalland formation of The Old Man of Storr inTrotternish on the Isle of Skye wastransformed through illumination and soundthroughout the months of August andSeptember in 2005. For forty two nights thisaward winning installation The Storr:Unfolding Landscape brought an audienceof six and a half thousand people, equippedwith headlamps, guides and walking stickson a strenuous walk to witness one ofEurope’s most dramatic and inspiringlandscapes at midnight. The massedpinnacles and buttresses were illuminatedwhile powerful soundscapes drifted downfrom the ridges above. The Storr projectdevised a programme of local training andemployment to provide a unique opportunityfor the local community and young peopleto contribute to and take part in the creativeinterpretation of local natural and culturalassets.

Transnational projects

Nine transnational project grants wereawarded during 2004-2005. Preparatoryactivity resulted in 4 transnational projectswith full partnership agreements. As withmost transnational projects, to enable theprojects to develop, a significant amount ofLAG time has been required to supportgroups and secure necessary matchfunding.

In one of the projects, funds have beenused to develop a new and excitingpartnership between the Highlands,Shetland and Norway (Sogn og Fjordane).Links between key agencies andcommunities will be developed to encouragejoint project activity, exchange of ideas andbest practice in rural development.


Nicole Wallace (Heritage)

Audrey Anthoney (Youth)

North Highland LEADER+ Scotland

t: 01463 702524



Action 2 in the North Highland LEADER+ area

The Storr, Photo by Alan Macateer

Project News


A skills shortage, coupled with a lack ofunderstanding of the types of appropriaterepair, has caused long term and in somecases irreversible damage to Wales’ heritageas many of North East Wales’ 4000 listedbuildings are at risk of dilapidation anddecay. Repair work and vernacular traditionsundertaken in the traditional manner by localpeople may be in a real danger of dying outaltogether.

To tackle the problem Cadwyn Clwyd andNorthern Marches Cymru LEADER+ groupshave successfully teamed up to obtain aEuropean Grant through the LEADER+Action 1 Programme for an innovativeTraditional Building Skills Project that willpush towards long term sustainabledevelopment. Financial support has alsobeen provided by Flintshire County Council,Denbighshire County Council and WrexhamCounty Borough Council.

Heritage Officer, Adam Bishop, has beenappointed to pilot the project, which willincorporate a series of Awareness RaisingTraining Days in a variety of traditional skilldisciplines, tailor-made to the requirementsof identified skills shortages. The courseswill comprise lectures and demonstrationsby conservation specialists and covervarious disciplines within the field ofconservation repair. If the project issuccessful, it is anticipated that the courseswill run for a period of approximately twoyears, to June 2008.

“The aim of these courses is to provideanyone working with old buildings theconfidence in working in historic materialsand using conservation techniques,” saysAdam. “Safeguarding traditional buildingskills will help preserve and restore theregion’s historic buildings, making themmore aesthetically pleasing to residents andtourists and provide a boost to the localeconomy.”

The traditional buildings skills courses will belaunched in September 2006.


Adam Bishop

Heritage Officer

Cadwyn Clwyd Cyf and

Northern Marches Cymru

t: 01825 705802


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Maize has long been recognised as anexcellent feed for dairy cows. A herd fed onmaize will produce milk with increased levelsof protein and butter milk. Both of these willgive the farmer a premium for his produce.Maize also has the additional benefit ofimproving the health of the dairy cow.

Until recently growing Maize on Angleseywas unpredictable due to the island’sclimate, however a new system developedin Ireland has enabled farmers on Angleseyto grow a reliable maize crop with higheryields than previously possible.

The innovative Samco Plastic System lays athin degradable plastic film over the ground

at the time of sowing which increases soiland air temperatures. This creates an ideal microclimate for the maize seed togerminate and develop and the youngseedling is then protected from adverseweather conditions and late frost. Within sixweeks the young maize plants breakthrough the plastic and mature rapidly toproduce a healthy crop.

Dafydd Gruffydd, the Menter Môn Leader+Manager, explained “Dairy farmers are facingtougher margins and this system will enablethem to secure an increased premium fortheir milk. Support was provided for the newsystem through our Leader+ Agri Innovationproject which enables farmers to adopt newand innovative methods.”


Dafydd Gruffydd

t: 01248 725713


www.mentermon.com

Anglesey farmers innovate with Maize production |

India Corn ar dwf ar Ynys Mon

Field of maize covered with the plastic film

Traditional Building Skills work at ‘Ty Coch’, Llangynafal

Safeguarding Rural North East Wales’ heritage |

Diogelu Treftadaeth Cefn Gwlad Gogledd Ddwyrain Cymru


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Trows get a newhome in Shetland

Trows, Shetland’s indigenous ‘little people’are being celebrated with two new projects.These land dwelling fairies live in the hillsand there are many references to a dooropening into a hillside Trow dwelling, knownas a ‘Trowie knowe’.

The first of these projects is transnationaland will be led locally by the ShetlandFolklore Development Group. OtherLEADER+ partner regions involved areIreland, North Highland, and Western Isles,Skye and Lochalsh. All participating LAGsare selecting folklore which will be collectedtogether to create a common andaccessible archive.

The main aim of this project is to explorenew models of interpreting folklore tocelebrate and promote regional culturelocally, nationally and internationally. Littleserious attempt has been made so far toexploit the potential of Shetland’s Trows.

The Shetland part of the project will developa small range of merchandise andpromotions involving music, illustrations,model figures, storytellers, a touringexhibition, and the development of trails of‘known’ Trow locations. A book will beproduced with a music CD accompanyingthe book publishing the many Trow storiesthat have been told over the years.

Katrina Wiseman, Shetland Enterprise’sLEADER+ Coordinator, said: “This projectwill help to develop folklore as a culturalasset in Shetland, in particular for museumsand the community.

“Shetland Folklore has been promoted in anad hoc manner over the years with noconcerted effort to promote it locally orinternationally. There is a growing marketand interest in the field of culture andfolklore within the Highlands and Islands.”

The second project celebrating the Trowswill allow for the creation of a “TrowieKnowe” within the Shetland Museum andArchive galleries. An artist will be employedstorytellers and young people will supplymaterial to be used in the Trowie knowe.

The project will be managed by ShetlandAmenity Trust in consultation with theShetland Folklore Development Group andis aimed at increasing the number of visitorsto the museum, particularly young people.

Jimmy Moncreiff from Shetland AmenityTrust who are responsible for the Museumand Archives, said: “Trows have played asignificant part in the islands culture sincetime immemorial, therefore it is unthinkablethat they should not be fairly representedwithin the Shetland Museum and Archives,this project will certainly remedy that.”

So far the projects have resulted in theresearch of historic stories from the archives,receiving artistic portrayals of trows from thecommunity, sourcing of music and thecommissioning of an artist and developmentof a ‘trow detector’ for the Trowie Knowe.The projects have generated a great deal ofinterest from the community with manysubmitting images and drawings that will befeatured on the website once it is up andrunning.

The first event is to be held in Ireland in lateOctober where storytellers and musicianfrom each of the areas will travel over toparticipate in the Achinagh Heritage Groupstorytelling festival. The final event is plannedin Shetland in June 2007.


Katrina Wiseman

Shetland Enterprise

t: 01595 693177


www.hie.co.uk/shetland

Project News

Davy Cooper from the Shetland Folklore Development Group in action telling stories about Trows in Shetland


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In Pembrokeshire a LEADER+ project isbeing developed in collaboration with sevenpartners across Europe. PLANED,Pembrokeshire Local Action Network forEnterprise and Development, is leading theproject which aims to stimulate greaterinterest in developing and “adding value” todistinct cultural and historic heritage whichevery rural area enjoys, in order to createtourism opportunities.

PLANED’s partners in this transnationalproject are LAG Krajina srdce in the CzechRepublic; Ballyhoura Development Ltd inIreland; GAL della Locride in Italy; SouthWest Finland Riverside Association; SouthLanarkshire Rural Partnership in Scotland;GAL Campoder in Spain; and Dolenjska andBela Krajina Heritage Trail Association inSlovenia.

The first meeting was held in Prague in June2006, when partners gave presentations onwhat they could bring to the project andwhat they were hoping to learn from it. “Wediscovered at the Prague meeting just howsimilar our expectations are and agreed onseveral key themes”, said Joan Asby, Planed

Co-ordinator. “For example several partnersare interested in developing medieval fairs”.The GAL Campoder group from Spain aretaking the lead on how to achieve moreengagement and involvement from localpeople and the Irish group from Ballyhourawill share their experience of organisingtraditional music, dancing and story tellingevents for tourists. “We at PLANED aretaking the lead on interpretation of heritage.We work with communities, training peopleto discover the heritage of their village andhelping them to interpret it with leaflets andpanels”, said Ms Asby.

Each partner is also developing projects oftheir own with local partners. One ofPLANED’s partners is Trac – the folkdevelopment organisation for Wales – whichhas sourced a collection of oldPembrokeshire folk songs. Trac is workingwith groups of local musicians to re-learnthese folk songs and then take these songsto local community groups. The aim is toencourage community groups to enjoy theirfolk music heritage and in so doing createan atmosphere of festive celebration in localvillages which visitors can enjoy and share.

Cambria Archaeology is another ofPLANED’s local partners and has beendoing an archaeological dig at a medievalCist cemetery along the Pembrokeshirecoast path. The involvement of PLANEDensured that both local people and visitorshave taken an active role in the dig,alongside archaeological students andprofessionals. The local community will alsohelp to shape how the site is interpreted,when decisions are taken on informationpanels and leaflets. Through this LEADER+funded project PLANED has given supportto Cambria Archaeology to fund aninterpretation officer to work with localpeople and ensure that passing visitors andtourists are shown around the site and givenan explanation on its importance.


Merrill Mabey

PLANED

t: 01834 862112

www.planed.org.uk

Celebrating what is special about where we live |

Dathlu'r hyn sy'n arbennig am ein bro

Local people attend taster sessions to find out about archaeology techniques and learn about the site’s history


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Borders BookFestival

Children’s author Vivian French enthralling a group ofschoolchildren at the Borders Book Festival Schools Gala Day

Rory Bremner reduces his audience to tears of laughter

Ian Rankin, in conversation with Festival Director Alistair Moffat, gives a sneak preview of his forthcoming Inspector Rebus novelThe Naming of the Dead

Borders Book Festival aims to make theliterary arts accessible to all. It is theScottish Borders’ first ever literature festival,and provides an exciting platform for thelively exchange of information and ideas.

The Festival demonstrates the importance ofcultural projects to rural development. Itattracts a unique mix of local and nationalauthors and audiences, increasing localconfidence and access to the arts, whileattracting visitors to the area and bringingreal benefits to the rural economy.

Here, the Festival Director Alistair Moffatrecounts some personal memories of thisyear's third annual Borders Book Festival.

As the Director of the 2006 Borders BookFestival, my role was to worry, to wanderdistractedly around Melrose worrying aboutticket sales, scanning the skies and worryingabout the weather, fretting about authorsturning up/being any good/drinking toomuch, generally being starry-eyed, ashen-faced, knuckle-biting and worried.

Well I have to report that I had a ball, awonderful time. It was like a four dayextended party. Everybody came – authorsand public and I was sorry that it ended soquickly. We had full houses, tremendouslyinteresting sessions and a wealth of literarytalent turned up – and drank too much, I’mdelighted to say. My particular favouriteswere Ian Rankin, Tom Conti, Rory Bremner,Jim Naughtie and Val McDermid. Allmarvellous – a group of extremely brightpeople talking engagingly about their craft,laughing about their mistakes, reading fromtheir work (you could have heard a pin dropwhen Ian Rankin read the first six pages ofthe new and unpublished Inspector Rebusnovel) and delighting the four thousandpeople who came along in the Junesunshine.

Our children’s festival introduced ageneration of Border children to the nameson the covers of their favourite books andwhen Mairi Hedderwick and Ross Collinsarrived at their venues, it was like minor

royalty meeting their public. Autographs,handshakes and a few cuddles.

In only three years the Borders Book Festivalfinds itself in the front rank of British literaryevents. Our media partners, The Scotsmanand The Southern Reporter kindly devote agreat deal of space and energy, our funderssuch as Scottish Borders Council, theScottish Arts Council and the ScottishBorders LEADER+ Programme are generous(this year supporting the new developmentof writers' workshops for young people) andour sponsors are all enthusiastic and kind.Our authors are stimulated to work evenharder to keep up production so that theycan receive return invitations – but most ofall our growing audiences have respondedmagnificently and made a tent in a field inMelrose the place to be at the end of June.And I nearly forgot to mention – I had agreat time.

Alistair MoffatDirector


Paula Ogilvie

Co-ordinator, Borders Book Festival

t: 01896 823317


www.bordersbookfestival.org

Project News


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Children from three local primary schoolscompeted in a mini food enterprisecompetition entitled ‘Freddie’s Food Biz’.The competition, focussing on localproduce, is also being run in three primaryschools in Tipperary, Ireland. The childrenpromoted, advertised and marketed theirown businesses as well as purchasingproduce and organising events. This isbeing funded jointly by the Tipperary andBlackdown Hills LEADER+ Local ActionGroups since the project links well with theLEADER+ themes of adding value to localproducts and making the best use of naturaland cultural resources.

In April the three Blackdown Hills schoolsbegan to set up sustainable enterprisesincorporating ‘local food’ and localbusinesses. St Andrews children decided toset up ‘Class 4 Snax Store’. They held theirfirst event in the school’s playground, wherethey sold a range of local produce. Pupilsmade ‘real’ lemonade and baked scones.The school had grown tomato plants,lettuces and herbs to sell and are alreadyplanning their next event for July. Headteacher, Morag Kingsbury, is thrilled, ‘It has been a brilliant opportunity for the

children to have a ‘real life’ purpose fordeveloping key curriculum skills in anexciting and fun way.’

Children from Payhembury Primary workedin business groups to give them a chance tobe involved in all aspects their enterprises.At their first event they sold focaccia loaves,blueberry muffins, buns and biscuits.Customers also enjoyed cream teas.Payhembury head teacher Nick Gordonobserved, ‘This project is a tremendouslearning experience for all children andadults alike. The class is already excitedabout planning the next event and areputting their new found business skills intomaking it even more of a success’.

Buckland St Mary children have not onlycreated a new growing plot in the schoolgrounds but also spoken to local communitymembers to see what they produce andhave sent out a questionnaire to find outwhich fruit or/and vegetables were indemand. They decided to set up a food co-op and asked Sarah Jackson fromSomerset Food Links (now SustainableFood Links) to visit them for some advice.The children have designed logos, a slogan,

mascot, labels and adverts to promote theirbusiness ‘Froots Roots ‘En Shoots’ (spelling‘Fresh’). Between only 16 of them, thechildren were thrilled to take an initial orderfor 34 bags of vegetables and their secondorder for 39 bags. The children process theorders themselves. Head teacher, SimonBillington is delighted with the children’sparticipation in the project which hascreated ‘a really purposeful experience fordeveloping real life skills and has completelycaptivated the children’.


Amanda Binnie

Food & Drink Sector Co-ordinator for the

Blackdown Hills LEADER+ Programme

t: 01823 680626

(Blackdown Hills AONB Offices)


www.blackdown-hills.net

Blackdown Hills Schools in ‘Local Food’ Business Competition

Children from St Andrews School with their Snax Store


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Support for Rural Development in Ireland ischannelled through two programmes:LEADER+ and the National RuralDevelopment Programme (NRDP). TheNRDP is a nationally-funded programmethat is open to those companies working inareas that did not qualify for LEADER+.

The combination of LEADER+ and NRDPprogrammes ensures that the ruraldevelopment of the entire country can becatered for in a cohesive manner. In Ireland,we see all of these companies as operatingthe LEADER method and they are allconsidered equal in terms of the supportthey receive and the status they have atnational level. All of these companies areeligible to participate in transnational (Action2) projects. The only distinction made is thatNRDP groups cannot be lead partners intransnational LEADER+ projects.

Facts and Figures

In Ireland there are:

• 22 LEADER+ LAGs,

• 13 locally-based NRDP groups (equivalentto LAGs) and

• 3 NRDP-funded collective bodies thatwork on a nationwide basis. These bodiesinclude community development agenciesand tourism agencies.

This gives a total of 38 groups operating theLEADER method. These groups areorganised as limited liability companies.Many of them administer a number ofdifferent programmes alongside LEADER(e.g. INTERREG, GRUNDVIG, LEONARDOand some national programmes includingsocial employment schemes andprogrammes addressing issues of physical,community and social infrastructure).

The total indicative LEADER budget(including NRDP) in Ireland is €138,643,000,giving an average budget of €3,648,500 foreach LAG. The following table showsindicative levels of expenditure for LEADERin Ireland, spread over the different Actions.

The geographical area covered by LEADER/ NRDP is c. 87,000 km2. This represents allof the country, excluding the main cities. Thepopulation served is approximately2,522,000.

Areas of Activity

The areas of focus that Irish LEADERcompanies have chosen for their LEADER+projects are:

1. The use of know-how and newtechnologies to make the products andservices of rural areas more competitive(24 groups chose this as primary themeor sub-theme)

2. Improving the Quality of Life in rural areas(20 groups prioritised this as a primarytheme or a sub-theme)

3. Adding value to local products, inparticular by facilitating access to marketsfor small production units via collectiveactions (10 groups chose this theme)

4. Making the best use of natural and cultural resources (10 groups chose thisone)

Actions %

Action 1Integrated territorial rural developmentstrategies of a pilot nature. 86.5

Action 2Support for inter-territorial and transnational co-operation. 10.1

Action 3The networking of all rural areas in the Community. 1.7

Action 4Technical Assistance (additional lead Department costs, evaluation, consultants’ costs etc.) 1.7

Total 100%

LEADER+ in Ireland

Fishing in the Barrow Nore Suir LEADER+ region


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The mid-term evaluation of LEADER inIreland showed that the top areas ofexpenditure were in:

1. Innovative Rural Enterprises, CraftEnterprises and Local Services andFacilities

2. Enhancement of Natural / Built / CulturalEnvironment

3. Training

Rural and Agri-tourism represents animportant area of activity in Ireland.

Current Developments

There are a number of changes to the ruraldevelopment landscape in Ireland that posechallenges to LEADER groups at themoment. With the closure of both theLEADER+ and the NRDP programmes, IrishLAGs must have all of their budgetscommitted by the end of December 2006.This means that any new transnationalprojects that Irish groups might undertake atthis point would of necessity be veryfocussed.

Simultaneous with the closure of theseprogrammes, a ‘cohesion process’ isunderway. The aim of this process is tostreamline the delivery of services in ruralIreland so that a one-stop shop wouldadminister delivery of the full range ofcommunity development, local developmentand social inclusion programmes. Whilesome LEADER groups would currentlyadminister a range of these programmes, inmany areas, a number of different agencieswould be involved.

Offaly LEADER+ project

Organisation of LEADER in Ireland

The managing authority for LEADER inIreland is the Department of Community,Rural and Gaeltacht (Gaelic-speaking areas)Affairs. LAGs deal directly with thisDepartment in submitting projects forapproval, monitoring spending, etc.

The National Network Unit for LEADER inIreland is the Irish LEADER Support Unit(ILSU). The ILSU is based at TipperaryInstitute in Thurles, a rural town in the southof Ireland. ILSU provides technical supportto LEADER groups, including support fordeveloping transnational partnerships.

Alongside ILSU, Comhar LEADER nahÉireann (CLÉ) is a representative networkof LEADER companies in Ireland. The focusof the work of CLÉ is on policy andrepresentational issues. ILSU and CLÉ work in close co-operation with each otherto support Irish LEADER groups.


Ciarán Casey

Irish LEADER Support Unit

Paul Keating

Manager

National Network Unit

Irish LEADER Support Unit (ILSU)

Tipperary Institute

Nenagh Road, Thurles

Co Tipperary

Ireland

t: +353-504-28115


www.ilsu.ie


South Antrim Conference 18-20thSeptember 2006

‘The Challenge of Change’

All documentation, PowerPointpresentations and working group notes fromthe conference are available on the UKLEADER+ website under events. Thanks tothe South Antrim LAG for all their help andsupport throughout the event and formaking it a success.

See: www.ukleader.org.uk

Teignbridge and KELT (Co. Kildare, Ireland)LEADER+ have just completed the VisionSwitch project. Young people from bothregions participated in digital video makingworkshops to learn about different aspectsof short film and TV production. The groupshave exchanged video messages, madeshort portraits of their homes, mini-documentaries, five-minute thrillers,psychological dramas and music videos allusing the countryside of Kildare and Devonas a film set!

A copy of the DVD can be obtained fromPhil Aubrey.


In April 2006 ‘New Eyes’ welcomedproposals from Creative people, individuallyor in groups, to apply to the project forfunding either to make ‘new work’ about theBlackdown Hills or to deliver communitybased arts projects. Grant aided from theBlackdown Hills LEADER+ Local ProductsStrategy together with the Arts Council ofEngland, all proposals had to involve digitaltechnology. Training through a series of freeworkshops and individual project supportwas also offered.

See: www.neweyes.org.uk

The Rural Development Trust in SouthLanarkshire is a new social enterprisecompany aiming to improve access totransport in rural South Lanarkshire forcommunity groups and not-for-profitorganisations. Funding has been securedthrough a partnership of South LanarkshireLEADER+, South Lanarkshire Council,Westrans and the Scottish Executive. Thishas enabled the Trust to deliver three inter-related projects, namely the launch of aCommunity Bus Scheme, the establishmentof a pilot PCV Driver Training programmeand the setting-up of a Co-ordination andDevelopment initiative aimed at identifyingand addressing gaps in services andproviding an information base to serve as aguide for the Trust and other transportproviders.

See: www.slrpl.org.uk

The Rural Down Partnership has initiated aproject to help counter unemployment in theArds, Banbridge and Down area. Theproject involved the recruitment and trainingof individuals in traditional skills, includingdry stone walling, hedge laying, hedgeplanting, lime mortaring and environmentalconservation.

By November 2005, 69 individuals in totalhad benefited from the specialised training.


A pioneering company which producesclothes for children with special needs haswon two major awards. Supported by theLEADER+ Women’s Enterprise Project in thePeak, Dales and Moorlands, Staffordshire-based Rackety’s designs and producestrendy but adapted clothing. It is believed tobe the first company in the UK to produce arange of clothing exclusively for this targetgroup.

See: www.racketys.com

50 people have formed their own Sambaband in the West Wight area on the Isle ofWight. The FaT (Freshwater and Totland)Samba group play all over the island andhelp bring the community together.

Initially funded by the Isle of Wight EconomicPartnership’s LEADER+ rural grant, PlatformOne (www.platformone.org) brought sambato West Wight late in 2003, introducingmany to the exciting carnival rhythms ofBrazil. Many locals have joined thedeveloping band and in 2005 FaT Sambawas born.


Paul Critchley (chairman)

t: 01983 759570

www.fatsamba.co.uk

www.iwep.com

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Short news

Shooting a music video on Haytor, Dartmoor


Seminars and events agenda

UK LEADER+ NetworkConferences 2006

22-24 NovTheme: A celebration of LEADER+ and Governance Nairn, Scotland Location: Newton Hotel, NairnHosting LAG: North Highlands LEADER+

Contact: Lucy Gaskin

UK LEADER+ Network Co-ordinator


UK and European events

2 November 2006Renewable Resources – Sustainable Future,Helsinki

Contact: Ms Tina Byring

Project Manager, Renewable resources -

sustainable future,

Finnish Forest Association

e: [email protected] or


t: 00358 968508814

www.smy.fi/renewableresources

9 November 2006The Future of Rural Communities in Europe– Brussels

Academic experts, politicians, practitionersand EU officials will explore the ever-widening diversity of rural communities andillustrate the key transformations localauthorities have to react in order to besustainable in the future.

The conference aims to contribute to thepositive appreciation of the important role ofthe rural communities for the future of theEU, looking at opportunities and successfactors.


t: +32 - 2 - 511.74.77

www.ccre.org

13-17 November 2006European Observatory of rural areas:‘Leader in the New Member States’

The EU Leader+ Observatory is organising aconference in Hungary for Old and NewMember States. The seminar will cover themost important aspects around Leader andproviding a forum for learning andexchange.

Tihany (Lake Balaton), Hungary

Contact: Kristiane Hallermann


t: 0032 2 235 2026

15-17 December 2006 Luxembourg & 13-15 July 2007‘Meet the makers’ exhibition forLuxembourg capital of culture

The organisers invite producer’sorganisations from across Europe to exhibittheir local produce. For registration –

Contact: Sylvie Reuter

t: +352 9081 88 42


22 December 2006European Conference on Education on EnergyParis, France

www.areneidf.org/energies/Conference_

education_energie-en.html

This conference, organised by ARENE Ile-de-France would be of interest toteachers and actors of environmentaleducation, technical staff, energy agencies,managers in the fields of the environmentand sustainable development.

Next edition of UK LEADER+ News

• Achievements of the UK LEADER+ Network

• Country page focus

• Project news

• Useful contacts and references

If you have some interesting news,debates, activities including aphotograph with a caption, please,send details by early November 2006to: [email protected]


Contacts

Network Management Unit

David Jepson

Network Directort: 0207 3783080e: [email protected]

Lucy Gaskin

Network Coordinatort: 0207 3783083e: [email protected]

Susan Grieve

Events Coordinatort: 01356 626490e: [email protected]

Kevin Maton

England Country Deskt: 024 76461835e: [email protected]

John Grieve

Scotland Country Deskt: 01356 626490e: [email protected]

Conor Patterson

Northern Ireland Country Deskt: 028 30267011/ m: 07768 178907e: [email protected]

Clare Burgess

Wales Country Deskt: 01970 613275/ m: 07919 692737e: [email protected]

European Observatory for Rural Areas:

LEADER+ Contact Point81 rue du MarteauB-1000 Bruxellest: +21.2.235.20.20w: www.europa.eu.int/comm./agriculture/

rur/leaderplus/index_en.htm

Managing Authorities

Defra (England)

Steve Bickers t: 020 72381101e: [email protected]

Scottish Executive

Jim Millardt: 0141 2425958e: [email protected]

Welsh Assembly Government

Sharon Robertst: 029 2080 1146e: [email protected]

DARD (Northern Ireland)

Michael McGuigant: 028 9052 5435e: [email protected]

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Documents

UK LEADER+ Newsletter - IPPR · UK LEADER+ Newsletter AUTUMN 2006 Poverty in Rural Areas Country Focus – England RDAs and Northern Ireland Consultation Thematic Focus – Social