LEADER

Happy, Healthy and Prosperous

LEADER in the Shropshire Hills

Local Development Strategy 2009-2013

LEADER is a rural development funding programme operating throughout Europe, and in this country now forms part of the government’s Rural Development Programme for England (RDPE). Following the successful provisional bid to Advantage West Midlands, the draft Local Development Strategy has now been completed and can be downloaded below.

The theme for the programme is improving the well-being of people in and around the Shropshire Hills by building on a sense of place and attachment to the landscape.

Well-being can be defined as “a contented state of being happy, healthy and prosperous” and recent work by the New Economics Foundation, defining the actions society can take to improve well-being, have been adopted as a framework for the delivery of LEADER in the Shropshire Hills:

  • CONNECT … Ensure everyone has access to basic services, facilities, learning and the high quality environment through improved community and public transport, better services and facilities, reduced impact on climate change and easier access to the great outdoors.
  • BE ACTIVE … Get out and about in the Shropshire Hills. Improve access for those with mobility problems and with mental and physical health issues. Target young people and the more disadvantaged. Improve access to information about walking, cycling and riding opportunities.
  • TAKE NOTICE … Develop sense of place and community pride as a contribution to sustainable regeneration. Prioritise opportunities to conserve and upgrade rural heritage, working with public and private sector owners to encourage access, interpretation and understanding.
  • KEEP LEARNING … Work with local enterprises and community groups to encourage involvement in learning, coaching and mentoring; focusing on innovation, diversification and creativity.
  • GIVE … Strengthen community capacity and cohesion by getting more people involved in community projects and volunteering. Help improve understanding and the capability to induce change by providing more opportunities to get involved in a wider range of activities, chosen by the community.

The Local Action Group (LAG) hopes to benefit over 7,000 people as a result of £1.325 million funding over five years (LEADER and Rural Regeneration Zone funding). It will manage 50 projects, support five co-operation projects with five other LAGs and bring investment of at least £1.8 million to the area.

  • Click here for the LEADER in the Shropshire Hills Local Development Strategy
  • Click here for the LEADER in the Shropshire Hills Business Plan
  • Click here for the LEADER in the Shropshire Hills Business Plan Appendices 2-4 & 6-8
  • Click here for the LEADER in the Shropshire Hills Business Plan Appendix 5
  • Click here for the LEADER in the Shropshire Hills Business Plan Appendices 9-10
  • Click here for the LEADER in the Shropshire Hills Business Plan Appendices 11-16
  • Click here for the LEADER in the Shropshire Hills Business Plan Appendix 17
  • Click here for the Executive Summary

If you would like further information or have any comments or questions about LEADER in the Shropshire Hills, please contact us

This project is part financed by the European Agricultural Fund for European Development 2007-13: Europe investing in rural areas.