About the funding - the Leader approach

The EU Rural Development Programme for England is about to be launched.  In this region, the East of England Development Agency (EEDA) will manage the programme, which will run between 2008 and 2013.  Around £20 million of the funding will be distributed through the so-called Leader strand. 

Leader is a “bottom-up” approach, which gives Local Action Groups the chance to decide how the funding is spent in their local area in line with the overall programme’s priorities.  This could make up to £4m worth of funding available for the Greensand Ridge between 2008 and 2013.

Leader looks for innovative solutions to existing issues, with a particular emphasis on:

• Strengthening links between communities and supply chains associated with the land based sector

• Supporting the development of sustainable products from landscapes and the environment
• Developing communities’ capacity to manage and make sustainable use of their own assets
• Development and strengthening of enterprise in rural areas

One of the first steps is to set up the Local Action Group.  This must be drawn from a wide range of interest groups in the area, including farmers and growers, the tourism sector, other rural businesses, voluntary and community groups, and statutory organisations.  The emphasis is on a collaborative approach to tackling economic, social and environmental issues.

"Bite-sized" guide to the Leader bid

Links for more information

EEDA prospectus:   Rural Development Programme for England - Leader Approach 
EEDA Rural Development Programme for England website page
Regional Implementation Plan for the Rural Development Programme

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