Frequently Asked Questions about The Highland LEADER Programme
2. What is the Highland LEADER Programme?
3. How do I apply for a grant?
4. What areas are eligible for Highland LEADER funding?
5. What costs are ineligible for LEADER funding?
6. What are the levels of grant aid?
8. How do I contact the Highland LEADER team or my local Development Officer?
LEADER (Liaison Entre Action De Development De L’Economie Rurale or Links Between Actions for the Development of the Rural Economy) is part of the new Scottish Rural Development Programme (SRDP), aimed at promoting economic and community development within rural areas. Resources are targeted at those rural areas identified as most in need, based on basic qualifying criteria such as scarcity of population, but importantly addressing issues such as ageing population, rural depopulation and job losses.
The aim of LEADER is to enhance rural communities through helping those active in rural areas to consider the long term potential of their area.
LEADER is in place currently in another 14 other areas of Scotland – please see the LEADER allocations in Scotland for more details.
The Highland LEADER Programme 2007- 2013 is being delivered as part of the Scottish Rural Development Programme (SRDP) and has eight key themes;
Firstly, you should contact your Local Development Officer who has responsibility for your area, the Officer will then register your projects enquiry. For more information please see funding section of the website.
The Highland LEADER area will include all of the Highland Council area, except for the Settlement Development Area for Inverness (as given in the Local Plan) and the part of the Highland Council area within the Cairngorms National Park. Please click here to see maps of the Programme area.
There are a number of costs which can not be claimed for, please see the ineligible costs section of the website for more details.
LEADER is not intended for major capital/revenue projects and will normally be targeted at small to medium sized projects. Grant rates between 40% and 45% will be available. Please discuss size, scale and potential grant rate with your Project Development Officer.
When your application has been approved by the Local Area Partnership and you have signed the letter of offer/contract, the project can commence. Grant payment may be made only on completion of the project (or an identifiable phase of the project), on submission of a fully documented, valid claim and on inspection by the Local Development Officer as to the project's satisfactory completion.
For all the relevant contact details, please see the contact us section of the website.