Call to apply for funding from Leader scheme (From The Northern Echo)

Call to apply for funding from Leader scheme

9:28am Tuesday 7th September 2010 in

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RURAL community projects are being urged to apply for funding after a Government-backed scheme announced it still has money left in the pot.

North Pennine Dales Leader’s five-year programme has already supported 38 schemes and business ideas in Teesdale, Weardale, West Derwentside and South Tynedale, and has about £200,000 available to help boost rural economies in the North-East.

Projects which have benefited from Leader include Bishop FM, a radio station for south-west Durham, an equipment hire service for clubs and groups in Teesdale, and a new centre for digital art in Barnard Castle. The scheme also aims to support projects that help retain young people in rural areas.

Project co-ordinator Sue Ellwood said: “We love hearing about exciting, slightly off-thewall ideas.

“Although, obviously, they have to be viable and stand up.

We want people to be imaginative and think about ideas that, for example, will generate income as well as improve facilities.

“Our aim is to work from the grass roots up with a communityled approach, so we rely on people living in rural areas to come forward with projects.

“We have funds that are still available for the rest of this financial year, so it is a great opportunity for people to move projects forward.

“We want to see that funding being used to benefit rural communities by improving the economy, services, facilities, local businesses, training opportunities and the environment.”

Leader helped Bishop FM broadcast local news and views to listeners across south-west Durham with a grant of £11,500, while £25,000 enabled the MEEThire project to be set up.

This generates income by hiring equipment, including marquees and a PA system, to community groups in the Barnard Castle area at reduced rates.

North Pennine Dales Leader is one of four Leaders in the North- East.

They share £4.5m from the Rural Development Programme for England, which is jointly funded by Defra and the European Union, and is managed by One North East in the North-East region.

Its name is derived from a French acronym standing for Liaison Entre Actions de Developement de l’Economie Rurale, meaning links between the rural economy and development.