Rural communities across Herefordshire have received a
multi-million pound boost with the extension of a successful
Europe-wide programme to promote sustainable economic and community
development in rural areas.
The LEADER programme in the West Midlands runs until 2013 with
more than £2.5million of support committed in Herefordshire
through regional development agency Advantage West Midlands.
LEADER funds Local Action Groups (LAGs) to develop and implement
solutions to rural development issues and is driven by the needs of
local communities.
In Herefordshire the LEADER LAG has just approved its first
project, Herefordshire Voluntary Action's REACH project, with joint
funding from the Big Lottery Fund. REACH is a partnership approach
to increasing the level of support provided to voluntary groups in
the market towns and villages of the county. As part of this
project, an officer will be based at the Marches Access Point, a
community led facility run by a team of local volunteers, which
provides local people with access to reliable and affordable
computer and office facilities.
Based at the old police station, Market Hall Street, Kington,
Marches Access Point offers the people of Kington and the
surrounding area with photocopying, scanning, fax and typing
services, as well as access to equipment, room hire, plus industry
recognised training opportunities.
In England, LEADER forms part of the Regional Development
Programme for England (RDPE) and is paid for through the European
Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD) and
Defra.
Advantage West Midlands is responsible for the overall
management of the socio-economic elements of RDPE in the region,
and also co-ordinates the distribution of RDPE funding in the
region. The day to day running of the LEADER programme in
Herefordshire is managed by Herefordshire Council.
Matt Smith, Partnerships Manager at Advantage West Midlands,
said: "Herefordshire LEADER is the largest of the region's Leader
programmes and the first project in the region to be approved
through the new LEADER funding.
"This is all about generating community activity, particularly
through community planning, and by enhancing the natural, built and
cultural environment. It's also about developing skills and
encouraging communities to shape their own future.
"LEADER's extension is fantastic news for the local economy and
will be just one of the ways we help the region move out of
recession and prepare for the opportunities that will be presented
when the economic upturn arrives."
Wendy Coombey, Chair of Herefordshire's LEADER Local Action
Group, said: "There have been successive LEADER projects in
Herefordshire for 15 years. The confirmation of funding for LEADER
until 2013 is great news for our local rural communities.
"We will be focused on helping local communities develop and
implement plans to improve quality of life, develop and access the
services they need, support and improve democratic structures,
identify and fill skills gaps, encourage enterprise, and enhance
and maintain the distinctiveness of the countryside, including
cultural, historic and natural environments."