18 September 2009
The following projects have successfully been awarded
funding through the EU LEADER Programme by the Shetland Local Action Group:
• Whalsay History Group to undertake a feasibility study/options appraisal
for the complex of buildings at Midden Court, Hillhead, Whalsay. Approval of
£8,789, 50% of total project costs.
• Shetland Islands Council to develop and manage new resources to promote
dialect development among young people, particularly upper primary and secondary
school ages. Approval of £66,980, 50% of total project costs.
• Seafood Shetland to conduct a MSC pre-assessment study to determine
the position of Shetland’s rope grown mussel industry to proceed to full
MSC accreditation. Approval of £3,200, 40% of total project costs.
All approvals are subject to match funding and pre-conditions being met.
LEADER (Liaison Entre Actions de Développement Économique Rurale
or Links between actions for the development of rural communities) forms part
of the Scotland Rural Development Programme 2007-2013, aimed at promoting economic
and community development in rural areas.
It replaces the Leader+ programme that ran from 2000 to 2006, and encourages
new and experimental approaches to rural development. LEADER is a bottom-up
method of delivering support for rural development through implementing a local
rural development strategy. Support will be aimed primarily at small-scale,
community driven projects that are pilot and innovative in nature.
Anyone interested in applying for funding can find additional information on
the Shetland LEADER Programme priorities and application process on the dedicated
website www.shetlandleader.org
Editors notes:
For further details on each project please contact the following project representatives:
Whalsay History Group – Caroline Arthur, Tel. 01806 566 534, Email: caroline@snarrigeo.plus.com
Shetland Islands Council – Noelle Henderson, Tel. 01595 744013, Email:
noelle.Henderson@shetland.gov.uk
Seafood Shetland – Ruth Henderson, Tel. 01595 693644, Email: ruth@fishuk.net