Worcestershire LEADER Programme

The LEADER Programme has been set up to fund projects and initiatives that benefit rural areas and communities in rural Worcestershire. The overall objective for the Programme in Worcestershire is to achieve the following vision:

By 2013 create vibrant, inclusive and connected local communities delivering innovative and sustainable solutions to social and environmental challenges that enhance individual and community well being.

The next bidding round for the Worcestershire LEADER Programme is now open! 

As the Programme has performed well to date it has received some additional funding and there is now a total of £152,400 to allocate.  The Programme has also been extended and projects can run up until September 2013.

The deadline for submission of Expressions of Interest is 27^th April 2012.  It is strongly recommended that you contact a member of the LEADER Project Team to discuss your idea before you submit anything.

Applicants submitting successful Expressions of Interest will be invited to submit a Full Application due by 8^th June 2012.

• Who can apply?
• What are the eligible areas?
• How much can I apply for?
• Do I need Match funding?
• Project Measures
• Priorities identified by the Local Action Group
• Where does LEADER Funding come from?
• How do I apply?

Who can apply?

Project applications with a strong community focus are welcome from all of the following groups:

• Social enterprises
• Parish Councils
• Voluntary organisations
• Formally constituted groups
• Businesses

What are the eligible areas?

Projects must benefit populations in the rural wards of Malvern Hills, Wyre Forest and Wychavon. Please see Eligible Areas for Worcestershire LEADER  (370 KB) for the map and table of eligible wards.

How much can I apply for?

• Each project can apply for up to £75,000 but should aim to request no more than £25,000 in one financial year. 
• There is no lower limit but projects requesting under £2,000 may wish to seek alternative sources of funding.

Please note that should you be awarded LEADER funding you will need sufficient funds to bankroll your project until claims for funding are processed.  Claims can be submitted monthly.

Do I need Match Funding?

Projects sitting under Measures 321, 322, 323

• Projects should seek to identify match funding of at least 25% of the total cost of the project.

• Match funding can be in the form of grants from other funding providers, fundraising, contribution from the applicant, volunteer hours etc.

• ·For ideas for match funding use the funding and grant finder service

Projects sitting under Measure 331

• Projects must identify match funding of at least 30% of the total cost of the project.
• Match funding must be from a private source (for example trainees' fees, applicant's own funds if private organisation, private trust funds etc).
• Match funding must be cash i.e. cannot include volunteer hours.
• For ideas for match funding use the funding and grant finder service

Project Measures

Projects must contribute to at least one RDPE Measure as a requirement of the funding.  Please see the links below for further information on each Measure.

• Measure 321: Basic services for rural communities  (1MB)
• Measure 322: Improving village environments  (1MB)
• Measure 323: Conserving traditional buildings and landscape  (1MB)
• Measure 331: Training in business and traditional rural skills  (1MB)

Priorities identified by the Local Action Group

The Worcestershire Local Action Group  (9KB), is made up of representatives from local community groups and relevant organisations, and has been set up to oversee the programme. 

The Local Action Group has identified specific objectives for LEADER in Worcestershire which are set out in the Local Development Strategy  (260KB)

There is limited funding available for projects from April 2011 to December 2012.  If you are interested in applying for LEADER funding for your project, please first consider this list of priorities  (32KB)

Where does LEADER Funding come from?

LEADER forms part of the Rural Development Programme for England (RDPE), funded by the EU and the UK Government.  It is being administered regionally by Advantage West Midlands and locally by Worcestershire County Council.

Please follow the attached link to visit the EU Commission's Rural Development Website http://ec.europa.eu/agriculture/rurdev/index_en.htm

How do I apply?

Before downloading an Expression of Interest form please contact a member of the LEADER Project Team to discuss your project idea. 

• Expression of Interest Form   (132KB)
• Expression of Interest Guidance Notes  (150KB)
• Summary of the Local Development Strategy  (300KB)

There are no specific deadlines for submission of Expressions of Interest.  

Contact Details

• Elspeth Fry, LEADER Project Manager, 01905 822013 or 07540 672066
• Hollie Kirk,  LEADER Project Assistant, 01905 822833 or 07931 466635

Address

PEP, Pavilion G3,
County Hall
Spetchley Roads
Worcester, WR5 2NP