Although the Lancashire Rural Futures programme has ceased

specialist rural business support can still be accessed through

Rural Futures on 01995 600724 www.ruralfutures.co.uk

LEADER+ AT LANCASHIRE RURAL FUTURES

”IMPROVING THE QUALITY OF LIFE AND ECONOMIC PROSPERITY IN RURAL LANCASHIRE"

Sheep on Bowland Knotts; Pendle Hill behind.

Leader+ at Lancashire Rural Futures funds the:

Rural Sustainable Marketing Programme.

WHAT IS IT?

This is a new programme to deliver Marketing and Environmental support to rural businesses. It seeks to add value to local products and services, to facilitate routes to market, to promote collective business links and to sustain businesses operating in harmony with the rural environment. The programme will until September 2007.

It supports businesses in rural Lancashire, centred on but not exclusive to the Forest of Bowland which are committed to:

offering a quality product or service;

in a manner which is sensitive to the natural environment of the area.

WHAT DOES IT DO?

The programme aims are to provide:

Real Marketing advice and support to micro and small sized rural businesses

Advice and capital assistance for Environmental improvements

Training assistance for Marketing and Environmental improvements

An Environmental Charter Assurance Scheme,

through which rural businesses can be accredited

through which rural businesses can become mutually supportive

which links to and promotes the outstanding natural beauty of the area.

The programme will assist the Bowland Tourism & Environment Fund. This is a local scheme which funds small scale environmental improvements, which can make an immediate and significant difference.

WHAT CAN GRANTS BE USED FOR? 

Marketing Support is aimed at developing projects that add value to local products and services. The types of items that can be funded are:

Design of new Advertising, Promotion and Publicity Materials

Exhibitions, networks, events 

Website design and capital costs

Marketing and environmental training

Professional support services 

The development of Group Marketing activity to complement individual actions, is an area we are particularly keen to support. 

Environmental Improvement - Investment in Environmentally friendly technologies, such as waste minimization, renewable energy sources.

Waste minimisation through separation of clean and dirty waste.

Establishment of appropriate waste collection systems for recycling.

Use of organic composter to dispose of celluloid and organic materials. 

Energy conservation or the use of renewable energy sources.

Pollution control measures.

WHAT CAN'T GRANTS BE USED FOR?

Current activities: all projects must be new developments 

Meeting statutory or legislative requirements 

WHO CAN APPLY?

All businesses in within the LEADER+ area of Lancashire.

We are especially keen to hear from: 

land based businesses diversifying, new businesses, businesses linked with other local business or the community, and the introduction of new technology or processes.

Not for profit organisations (like charities, support groups, societies and clubs) which support local producers 

HOW MUCH CAN I APPLY FOR?

LEADER+ is designed to be innovative and to fill gaps in funding. There are limits to how much you can claim. There are also maximum total amounts of money available, we will discuss those with you, in line with your project needs.

Marketing projects can claim up to 50% of eligible cost

Environmental Capital improvements can claim up to 25% of eligible cost 

Marketing & Environmental Training can claim up to 50% of cost 

HOW DO I APPLY?

We start by sending out a "registration of interest" form for you to fill in. We've tried to write in as simple English as we can. If you already have a development plan in writing, by all means send us in addition to the “expression of interest” form.

We then contact you and set up a meeting. From the paperwork and the meeting we can establish if your project is eligible and how much grant you might be eligible for. 

We will then try to help you through the application process and deal with as much of the jargon and technical detail as we can for you. We then write up a submission to the grant fund together and submit it to a grant awarding panel, made up of local people. Once we have all the details in place, it is our target to process applications within two weeks.

WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?

You will need to have appropriate quotations in place and be able to demonstrate that you have "matching funds" to make up the difference between the grant offered and the total project costs. If your project is of sufficient quality, we will send you a formal “Offer letter” confirming our grant support. By this point. When we are satisfied all the money is in place and assist you with a Marketing or Environmental audit as appropriate. You can then start your project.

HOW DO I GET MATCHED FUNDING?

It can come from your own resources or borrowings. 

In certain circumstances it can come "in kind", whether contributions of labour or materials.

From other public or private sources, grants from other government agencies, charities or other organisations. 

NB. European and DEFRA funds CANNOT be used to match LEADER+.

ARE THERE LOTS OF RULES, REGULATIONS AND RED TAPE?

YES, BUT we deal with most of it for you. There will still be issues for you to deal with, but we will discuss these with you. 

SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

All projects receiving grant aid must be of benefit to the rural economy, local people and the environment. No project will be allowed that is significantly detrimental to any one of these areas. As part of your application you will be asked to consider how you will sustain your project aside from our programme. 

We are particularly looking for businesses to join the Bowland Charter Assured Scheme to promote themselves, other rural businesses and the area as a whole.