REVISED DEADLINE
You now have a little more time to apply for funding - the round will now close on 30 April 2012 - please see below for further details

22 February2012

Western Somerset Local Action has opened for a final round of applications.

The last round of funding has opened for Expressions of Interest.  Applications will be judged against the following criteria:
Projects can request between £1,000 and £15,000

• Preference will be given to projects involved in the following sectors:
  - Tourism
  - Business Support
  - Job Creation
  - Farm Diversification
  - Training
  
• There is no further funding for community facilities  as these have already received a high percentage of funding of the allocation.
  

• Capital spend projects preferred, although revenue can be considered if they are able to complete before 30 September 2013.

• Timescales - Expression of Interest to be submitted by 31 March 2012 to Anne-Marie Spalding - amspalding@somerset.gov.uk.  Successful EOIs will be informed of the timescale for the submission of Full Applications.
  

5 October 2011

Following the review of Local Action Schemes across England, the overall grant allocation for Western Somerset has been reduced by 10% to £2,025,000.  Western Somerset has already committed over £1.9m of the original allocation, this now leaves us with a very small amount left to commit. 

Local Action for Rural Communities is part of the Rural Development Programme for England, a European funded programme running from 2009 to 2013.

The Rural Development Programme for England (RDPE) runs from 2007 to 2013.  It provides the major financial vehicle for protecting and enhancing the environment and securing a range of public benefits for society.

For more information please click here

In this region, the South West of England Regional Development Agency (SWRDA) is responsible for ensuring that 5% of the RDPE funding is spent on enabling community involvement in rural development.

This investment is about improving the quality of life in rural areas and promoting diversification of the rural economy. The budget is channelled through the 'Leader' community-led approach to development, which is called Local Action in the South West.

The investment programme is now open and looking for Expressions of Interest from communities, partnerships and businesses who have a project that they feel will help to deliver the priorities for our area.

In Somerset we have three Local Action Schemes - Levels & Moors, Western Somerset and Making It Local (Blackdown Hills). Each scheme has slightly different funding priorities however the ‘Measures' that they deliver are set by Europe.