Scotland: National Rural Network
This is the first part of the event report from the Scottish National Rural Network regional event in the Scottish Borders. In this part you can find out about the Chair's opening remarks and information updates on the Rural Network, LEADER and Rural Priorities. In Part Two, you can read about four inspiring project presentations and the facilitated discussion session.
The Scottish Borders regional event of the Scottish National Rural Network took place on 16th February 2010 at the Springwood Hall, Kelso. The event was busy, with around 80 delegates enjoying a day of presentations and networking.
Chair Councillor Brian McGrath welcomed delegates to the event and set out the aims of the day. He outlined a number of issues including the global recession, the Common Agricultural Policy post 2013 and public sector spending cuts. In this context, Councillor McGrath said it was important to work together, and that networking could help address some of these challenges. He said the benefits of networking included learning from others' mistakes, finding good ideas and turning them into great ones , getting different perspectives on your local problems and issues and getting beyond your locality.
Councillor McGrath set out his hopes for the tone of the day's event and encouraged delegates to make new connections, use the coffee and lunch for networking, share good ideas, listen out for new perspectives and enjoy a relaxed and positive engagement.
You can get more information by downloading Councillor McGrath presentation from our documents library.
Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations Head of Rural Policy Norman MacAskill, and Scotland National Rural Network Website Editor Norette Ferns gave delegates an overview of the Rural Network and the work that has been done so far. Mr MacAskill explained that the Scottish Borders event is one of a series of 20 taking place across the country. Ms Ferns gave an introduction to the website, and ways to get informed, inspired and involved. She highlighted the step by step instructions for adding content in the delegate packs and also available in the How to Add Content section of the website.
You can get more information by downloading the Scottish National Rural Network update presentation from our documents library.
John Dougan from Forestry Commission Scotland gave an overview of the Rural Priorities scheme. Rural Priorities is part of the £1.6 billion Scotland Rural Development Programme. Mr Dougan explained that they are about midway through the programme. He said it was important to note that the vast majority of money is from the Scottish Government, rather than Europe.
Mr Dougan said there were more opportunities in Rural Priorities than some previous schemes and that it was more innovative, however this can cause challenges.
There are 11 regions for Rural Priorities, and Scottish Borders is one of them. In the region, almost £15 million has been awarded in the first five rounds, which is about ten percent of the total. In addition, more than £5 million has been recommended for approval in the most recent round. Mr Dougan said there was a good level and range of cases currently in the system for future rounds, and that Rural Priorities in the Scottish Borders was busy and buoyant.
He said a wide variety of projects had received funding included agriculture infrastructure, woodland creation, tourism, community facilities, environmental projects and broader rural business investments.
Mr Dougan concluded by saying that case studies later in the day during the project presentations would give delegates more of an idea of processes and so on.
You can download Scottish Borders Rural Priorities presentation from our documents library.
Sam Smith, Rural Development Officer with Scottish Borders Council gave an overview of the Scottish Borders LEADER programme. Ms Smith explained that LEADER is an innovative programme, which is willing to take risks. Decisions are made locally, and Scottish Borders has a budget of £2.42 million.
Ms Smith explained that the guiding principles of LEADER are: innovation, community involvement, equal opportunities, sustainability and transferability. She said it wasn't a one size fits all approach. For example, Scottish Borders might not have the same issues as the Highlands and Islands, but with rural Sweden instead.
The two themes Scottish Borders are focussing on are:
Ms Smith then took delegates through the eligibility criteria. A range of organisations can appply for LEADER funding including constituted community groups, public organisations and agencies, social enterprises, collaborative business groups, partnerships, trusts and other NGOs.
There is a 50 percent grant rate or 70 percent for inter-regional/transnational projects. The maximum grant is £125,000 and this needs match funding.
And what does success look like? Ms Smith highlighted a number of projects in the area as examples of good practice including the Scottish Borders Ancestral Tourism Forum development, Borders Woodfuel and Renewable Energy Project, Tweed Valley Tourist Consortium, Stable Life, the Creative Arts Business Network and Eyemouth Harbour Pontoon and Shore Diver Access.
Scottish Borders LEADER launched in May 2008. There have been six rounds and 23 projects have been approved. Ms Smith talked about some of the other funds that were available in Scottish Borders. These include Forestry Commission Challenge Funds, South of Scotland loan scheme and VisitScotland Growth Fund. She also highlighted sources of support including LEADER, Business Gateway, Rural Direct, The Bridge and Berwickshire Association of Voluntary Services, Scottish Borders Council Grants Coordinator and Scottish Borders Council Lottery Officer.
Scottish Borders Council have a dedicated email address that people can use for any funding enquiry. The email address is ruralfunding@scotborders.gov.uk and information is also available on the Scottish Borders Council funding web pages and on the Scottish Borders LEADER website.
You can download the Scottish Borders LEADER presentation from our documents library.
In Part Two, you can find out about four inspiring businesses and initiatives: Scottish Borders Food Network, Tweed Valley Tourist Consortium, Whitmuir Organics, Upper Nisbet Farm. You can also get details from the facilitated discussion session.
The Scottish Borders event is one of 20 events taking place throughout the country as part of the Scottish National Rural Network. You can find out about events still to take place in our Regional Events page and in our Rural Network Regional Events archive you can find presentations, photos and event reports from previous events.
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