1. DOMINIE DUNBROOK LEADER PROGRAMMES MANAGER 1

2. An introduction to LEADER 2014 - 2020 2 Rural Development Programme 2014 - 2020 Countryside Stewardship €3.875bn (£3.1bn) Countryside Productivity €176m (£141m) Growth Programme €221m (£177m) LEADER €172.5m (£138m) LEADER €172.5m (£138m) Aim: To grow the rural economy in England Key outcomes: Creation of growth and jobs Minimum grant: £2,500 National priorities: Support to increase farm productivity Support for micro and small businesses (non-agricultural) and farm diversification Support for rural tourism Provision of rural services Support for cultural and heritage activity Support for increasing forestry productivity Aim: To grow the rural economy in England Key outcomes: Creation of growth and jobs Minimum grant: £2,500 National priorities: Support to increase farm productivity Support for micro and small businesses (non-agricultural) and farm diversification Support for rural tourism Provision of rural services Support for cultural and heritage activity Support for increasing forestry productivity

3. Where will LEADER fund? 3

4. What will LEADER fund? LEADER will fund farmers, foresters, rural businesses and rural communities to help: create jobs develop rural businesses support the rural economy 70% of all projects must directly support the rural economy. 30% of projects will also need to demonstrate that they are contributing to improving the local rural economy. 4

5. What will LEADER fund? Projects must meet Local Development Strategy (LDS) priorities and at least one of the national 6 priorities for support as outlined below. Support to increase farm productivity Support for micro and small businesses (non- agricultural) and farm diversification Support for rural tourism Provision of rural services Support for cultural and heritage activity Support for increasing forestry productivity 5

6. What LEADER can’t fund Most revenue costs – LEADER is predominantly a capital funder projects the applicant is required to do by law or to meet a legal requirement costs for anything that’s a standard industry obligation, for example requirements of the Basic Payment Scheme 6

7. How much grant can you get? The amount of funding available depends on: type of project size of business the costs involved (not all costs of the project may qualify for funding) The minimum grant is £2,500 The maximum grant is €200,000 – set at the de minimis limit 7

8. LEADER Programme - process There is a two-tier application process for LEADER: –Outline Application –Main Application Matched funding is required – normally 60% of the project costs from your own sources Planning permission would need to be in place (together with any other statutory permissions) 8

9. LEADER Programme - process Decision making processes can vary in time – on average 6 months If successful, grant payments are made retrospectively Monitoring requirements will be in place during the grant period and for a short while after The project activity needs to be maintained for at least 5 years after the final grant payment 9

10. Further information: You can find further information about the LEADER programme by: Visiting the LAG websites: www.makingitlocal.org www.realdevon.org OR National information can be found on the‘DEFRA RDPE 2014 – 2020’ web portal 10