Welcome to the England LEADER+ Programme
LEADER+ is a European Community Initiative for assisting rural communities in improving the quality of life and economic prosperity in their local area. Twenty five areas in England benefit from the funding.
Partnerships
of local organisations and people, called local action groups, identify
development needs within their rural communities which they set out in
a development plan. LEADER+ funding assists these local action groups
to encourage and support the development of small-scale, innovative projects
that meet local development needs in a sustainable way. LEADER+ incorporates
a “bottom-up” approach, whereby local action groups take the
lead in identifying local needs, developing and promoting a local strategy
and in the selection of projects.
Twenty five local action groups were competitively selected in 2002 to deliver the England programme.
To see our publication on what this model means in practice [PDF] (830KB)
In the UK each country operates a separate programme. Defra is the Managing Authority for the England LEADER+ Programme. Applications for funding under the current LEADER+ Programme ended on 31 December 2006. However, some local action groups (LAGs) are operating delegated grant schemes from which small amounts of funding might still be available. Funding applications should be made directly to the LAGs and the respective project/s must fall within the LAGs operational area.
Local
Action Groups can approve new projects up until the end of 2006. Funding
for those projects must then be spent by the end of 2008.
The programme in England will received €55m (approximately £38m) EU funding. This will be matched by Defra funding (£16m), other public sources (28m) and the private sector (£16)
Each Government Office for a region in England is responsible for implementing the Programme in its area. A regional Government Office Secretariat provides support for and monitors the progress of the local action groups in their region.
Future LEADER Approach for England
The forthcoming Rural Development Programme for England (RDPE) 2007-13 utilises the EAFRD:
- LEADER, known as Axis 4, will be a delivery mechanism for the RDPE programme, contributing to the objectives of the three main axes.
- A minimum of 5% of the RDPE budget must be spent via the LEADER delivery method.
- The RDPE Programme Document, has been submitted to the European Commission for negotiation and approval.
- Please see the Rural Development pages for Questions and Answers on the RDPE programme.
- Regional Development Agencies (RDAs) will be responsible for managing the LEADER approach.
- Following agreement of the Voluntary Modulation Regulations, there is a budget minimum of approx £139m to be delivered through LEADER.
- Please see the Rural Development pages for Questions and Answers on the New LEADER approach 2007 - 2013.
Contact us
Defra LEADER+
Programme Management Team
Rural Development Programme, England
Area 3B
Nobel House
17 Smith Square
London
SW1P 3JR
Email. leaderplus@defra.gsi.gov.uk
Page last modified:
13 June, 2008
Page created: 10 December, 2002