Application Form and Guidance

Download the LEADER Application form here.

Download the LEADER Application Guidance document here.

If you are unable to download or require a printed copy of the Application Form, contact the LEADER Administrator.

Match Funding

LEADER can fund project costs up to 50%. The remaining costs are known as "match funding" and can be sourced from a variety of funders, both public and private. A match funding database has been devised and is available for potential applicants here:

Match Funding Fact Sheet

LEADER Grant Rates: Update April 2011

The LEADER programme is a competitive grant scheme and the level and percentage of grant applied for will be taken into consideration during the assessment process.

While there is a flexible grant rate within LEADER, each project is assessed on it’s own merit and the grant rate awarded to individual projects is at the discretion of the Rural Aberdeenshire LAG.

It should be noted that at April 2011 the average grant rate based on total eligible costs of all projects approved to date is around 30%.

The Rural Aberdeenshire LAG continues to focus on best value, wide community benefit and sustainability taking factors into account such as:

Evidence of need in relation to the amount and intervention rate of LEADER funding applied for
Evidence of community demand for product or service
Evidence of community benefit to be derived from project
Value for money in relation to benefit.

A wide range of grant schemes, excluding other EU grant schemes, can be considered as match funding towards LEADER.

The following might be useful in your search for match funding:

Aberdeenshire Community Asset Fund

The Aberdeenshire Community Asset Fund has been drawn up to enable community or social enterprises to look at developing an asset or service that will give the organisation an ongoing income. The Fund is financed by Aberdeenshire Council and Scottish Enterprise.

Before applying to this fund please contact Reid Hutchison, to ensure that the proposal meets Community Asset Fund eligibility criteria.

Reid Hutchison

Aberdeenshire Council

29 Bridge Street

ELLON

AB41 9AE

Tel: 01358 726411

reid.hutchison@aberdeenshire.gov.uk

For further information:

http://www.aberdeenshire.gov.uk/support/ced/cedassetfund.asp

Support for Aberdeenshire Business (SAB)

In an effort to expand the local economy Aberdeenshire Council has produced an Economic Development Strategy where the Council outlines how it will target support to certain industries and activities. To achieve this, the Council offers assistance through its scheme – Support for Aberdeenshire Business (SAB).

SAB offers practical business advice and discretionary financial assistance, in the form of loans and grants, to both new and existing businesses throughout Aberdeenshire.

For further information contact:

Morna Harper

Business & Community Support Manager

Aberdeenshire Council

Woodhill House

Westburn Road

ABERDEEN

AB16 5GB

Tel: 01224 665218

Below is a link to the SAB page on Aberdeenshire Council’s website:

http://www.aberdeenshire.gov.uk/support/finance/sab.asp

Forestry Commission Scotland

Forestry Commission Scotland can match fund projects through LEADER in Aberdeenshire on the national forest estate or through the forestry development program.

For further information contact:

John Risby

Conservator

Forestry Commission Scotland – Grampian Conservancy

Portsoy Road

HUNTLY

AB54 4SJ

Tel: 01466 794542

www.forestry.gov.uk/scotland

In addition FCS can offer grants through the Scottish Rural Development Program and the Forestry for People Challenge fund.

For information on FCS Challenge funds:

http://www.forestry.gov.uk/forestry/infd-7epeed

For information on SRDP:

http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Rural/SRDP

Scottish Natural Heritage

Scottish Natural Heritage continues to be able to offer grant support for projects not covered by SRDP. Grants can be provided to a wide range of urban and rural projects that deliver outcomes linked to the SNH Corporate Strategy. If your project can help SNH meet their strategic objectives, then you can apply for a grant.

Below is a link to the grants page on SNH's website:

http://www.snh.org.uk/about/ab-grants.asp

Big Lottery Fund

Every year the Big Lottery Fund gives out millions of pounds from the National Lottery to good causes. The money goes to community groups and to projects that improve health, education and the environment.

For further information:

http://www.biglotteryfund.org.uk/scotland

Awards for All Scotland

Awards for All Scotland is supported by the Scottish Arts Council, the Heritage Lottery Fund, sportscotland and the Big Lottery Fund.

Grants of between £500 and £10,000 are available for people to take part in art, sport, heritage and community activities and projects that promote education, the environment and health in the local community.

For further information:

http://www.awardsforall.org.uk/scotland/index.html

Marr Area Partnership Initiative Grant Scheme

This scheme is designed to support communities of the Marr area which extends from Huntly, Alford and Banchory west to Strathdon, Corgarff and Braemar. The awards are designed to promote sustainable community development schemes.

Awards are intended to be used in tandem with funds raised by a community. Awards will be up to a maximum value of 50% of a project cost. The maximum grant award under the scheme being £1,000.

For further information contact Mike Powell on 013398 87577 or mike@marrareapartnership.org.uk and/or download the grant application and guidance from www.marrareapartnership.org.uk.

Community and Renewable Energy Scheme (CARES)

Through Community Energy Scotland, CARES offers grants to a range of community organisations to help with the installation of a variety of renewable energy technologies. Communities may apply for funding for technical assistance and capital grants for renewable energy equipment installation and associated costs. Under CARES there is no set grant funding. The amount of funding awarded is determined on a case by case basis.

For further information:

http://www.communityenergyscotland.org.uk/cares.asp

Links below relate to other funding which cannot be used as match funding but may be of benefit to ongoing development, e.g. marketing, of your project

Visit Scotland Growth Fund

The Visit Scotland Growth Fund is a marketing fund which enables groups of tourism businesses to undertake new marketing activity or further develop current activity which will generate additional visitors to Scotland.

http://www.visitscotland.org/marketing_opportunities_main/growthfund/about_the_fund.htm