What was LEADER+?

LEADER + was a European Community Initiative that aimed to assist rural communities to improve their quality of life and economic prosperity. The LEADER+ programme ran from 2000 to 2006 and it was intended to encourage and support communities, agencies and businesses in rural areas to think about the longer-term potential of their area.

WHELK LEADER + offered up to 45% funding to eligible projects

Itl encouraged high-quality original strategies for sustainable development and encouraged innovative projects that:

made best use of natural and cultural resources by:

  • developing access to and interpretation of coastal and woodland areas
  • improving and extending community involvement in the management of the natural environment
  • assisting niche tourism projects which rely on the natural and cultural heritage of the area
  • improving knowledge and understanding of the natural environment

helped remote and island communities to help themselves by:

  • establishing or strengthening community groups to deliver community priorities
  • developing inter-community networking
  • supporting innovative methods of establishing or retaining vital services and facilities
  • piloting new methods of addressing problems of housing and transport
  • piloting use of mobile resources
  • supporting the use of new materials and new building techniques

contributed to sustainable rural economies by:

  • supporting local entrepreneurs to develop new business opportunities
  • supporting community waste management or recycling projects
  • exploring the opportunities offered by sea lochs for haulage by sea
  • supporting projects which add value to local produce
  • creating a balance between the requirement for economic development and sustaining the environment
  • developing Information and Communication Technology in support of remote communities
  • delivering improved service provision for remote provision

The Programme focused on coastal and island communities. Projects in towns were only eligible for WHELK funding if surrounding rural communities could benefit directly from the project

 

The LEADER+ Programme also placed strong emphasis on co-operation and networking between rural areas in the UK and throughout Europe. Additional money was available under the following measures for suitable projects.

Co-operation within Scotland and the United Kingdom - Transregional projects

International co-operation - Transnational projects