Leader+

New LEADER Programme - respond to New LEADER programme ( 2007-2013) questionniare.

• Development Manager, Youth:
  Audrey Anthoney,
  Tel:  01349 882 150,
  Email: audrey.anthoney@highland.gov.uk;
• Development Manager, Heritage:
  Nicole Wallace,
  Tel: 01463 702 524,
  Email: nicole.wallace@highland.gov.uk;
• Programme Administrator:
  Wendy Anderson,
  Tel: 01463 702 548,
  Email:  wendy.anderson.planning@highland.gov.uk.

The Highland Wellbeing Alliance has been awarded £2.5 million from the European Union’s Leader + Programme.  These funds will enable young people and rural communities across the north and west of Highland to implement projects that they themselves suggest.

The main aim of the programme is: "To achieve a significant and lasting improvement in the quality of life of the North Highland area and its communities, by making it the best place in Scotland to be young and by enhancing the value of its natural and cultural heritage."

The programme will be co-financed by a range of partners, including Scottish Natural Heritage, Highlands and Islands Enterprise, and The Highland Council, as well as private and charitable organisations, bringing the total project funding to around £5.7 Million.

This programme will allow a broad range of initiatives to be funded under the two themes of youth development and heritage. 

The Heritage programme will be community orientated with representatives from community and interest groups making up 50% of the advisory groups who decide on where the money should go.  Young people will comprise 50% of the local partnership groups who will decide on how some 60% of the youth development budget should be spent.

Along with the EU funded Community Economic Development (CED) programme, Leader + will build on the foundations of the previous Leader II initiatives and will complement a number of community-based national and regional action programmes, including Community Planning, the Highland Youth Strategy, Social Inclusion Partnerships, new Community Schools, and the INTERREG IIIC programme.

Although young people (aged 14 to 25) are a prime target group for the programme, it will also be of direct benefit to small and micro-businesses, to the unemployed and to women in the North Highlands.

Details on how to apply are included in the documents in the "Current Documents" section to the right.