LEADER is a European Union Community Initiative aimed at promoting economic and community development within rural areas.
The Highland LEADER 2007–2013 programme has now been allocated £6 million by the Scottish Government. More information about the main Highland LEADER programme can be found at www.highlandleader.com
The Black Isle Ward 10 has set up an interim Local Partnership Group to prepare a Local Development Plan to deliver relevant projects during the lifetime of the Highland LEADER Programme. The interim Local Partnership Group is made up of the four Black Isle Councillors: David Alston, Billy Barclay, Craig Fraser and Isobel McCallum and is serviced by the Ward Manager, Di Agnew.
The Local Partnership Group needs your assistance to help prepare this Local Development Plan, and would like to hear about any possible project ideas your community group or organisation might have that meet the Programme criteria below.
The overall aim is:
To enable people in the Black Isle to realise their ambitions to live in communities where they can fulfil their personal, social and economic potential.
The main objectives are:
- To stabilise and grow population levels and the balance between age groups, particularly focusing on the retention and attraction of young adults;
- To increase the benefits communities can derive from their natural, built and cultural heritage;
- To maximise the benefits of community assets;
- To improve access to services in the community, particularly focusing on the needs of young people and those over 65;
- To assist communities to create, update and implement development plans;
- To increase the scope and range of training and learning opportunities available locally;
- To support the development of social enterprise and micro-businesses.
The LEADER Programme in the Black Isle will be aimed directly at the following specific target groups:
- Young people
- Women
- The under-employed
- Young adults (up to 34)
- Older people (over 65)
- Micro-businesses
Project proposals that fall within the following categories will be accepted for funding consideration by the Local Partnership Group:
- Local Development Plans and Partnership Working
- Culture and Heritage
- Training and learning opportunities
- Access to activities, facilities and services
- Land, environment and access to the countryside
- Renewables
- Tourism
- Social enterprise and micro-businesses
The Programme will open for project applications within the next few months.
If your community group or organisation has any possible project ideas that meet the Programme criteria above, please tell us about them by either filling in our brief online survey form Click here to take survey, or fill in and return the downloadable form here (PDF) to:
Di Agnew, Ward Manager, Black Isle Ward 10, Council Offices, High Street, Dingwall, IV15 9QN by Friday 19 September 2008.
Forms can also be filled in at the following locations on the Black Isle: Black Isle Service Point; Black Isle Leisure Centre; Cromarty and Fortrose Libraries; Primary Schools; and the Council Offices, High Street, Dingwall.