Scotland: National Rural Network
Connecting Rural Scotland - Promoting Rural Growth

News from Dumfries & Galloway LEADER

Rural communities across Dumfries & Galloway received a boost for 2012 when Dumfries & Galloway LEADER awarded over £140,000 in grants at their recent Local Action Group meeting. The rural development funding programme, based in New Abbey, has seen 91 community projects supported over the past 3 years with funding totalling almost £2.9 million.

The Local Action Group members, made up of representatives from public, private, community and voluntary sectors, have been delighted to support a huge variety of community led projects from across the region since the programme began in 2008.

Ros Halley, Rural Development Manager for LEADER commented on the range of projects, "The LEADER projects across the region demonstrate the sheer scale of local community activity on-going in our small towns and villages, everything from environmental improvements, nature site and tourism points to village halls, sports, arts and crafts. Yet again the communities of our region have demonstrated great resilience over the past few years, despite the economic downturn and we are looking forward to continuing to promote these projects whilst developing up the new 2014-2020 programme."

This recent allocation of funding now sees the Dumfries & Galloway LEADER programme fully committed and is therefore closed for applications until further notice.

The LEADER staff will continue to work closely with rural communities and will deliver a programme of events and activities over the coming months designed to assist  rural communities to grow their capacity.

If you would like to know more about the LEADER programme and the projects supported please contact Nicola Hill on 01387 850228 or visit the website on http://www.dgleader.co.uk/.