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Priorities for RDPE in the Northwest • •
Rural Development Programme for England (RDPE) in the Northwest
• •
Making farming and forestry more competitive and sustainable* Enhancing the environment and countryside Enhancing opportunities in rural areas* Skills, knowledge transfer and capacity building*
* Activity led by NWDA
The Northwest Regional Development Agency (NWDA) is responsible for stimulating the economic growth and regeneration of England’s Northwest. As a business-led organisation, we provide a crucial link between the needs of business and Government policies and we work to create an environment in which businesses in the region can flourish.
RDPE BULLETIN - AUGUST 2009 The Northwest Regional Development Agency (NWDA) is pleased to announce that rural businesses, farms and community ventures based in Greater Manchester and Cheshire can apply for £3.7 million in grants. Eligible bodies can submit an Expression of Interest (EoI) to the NWDA for projects which will boost the rural economy. The NWDA is releasing the funding from the Rural Development Programme for England (RDPE), a programme running from 2007-2013 which aims to transform the rural economy and is jointly funded by Defra and the European Union, and managed by the NWDA.
Grants are available for projects under four key aims: 1. New ways to add value to farm and forestry products. 2. Co-operating on the research and development of new products and processes. 3. Helping farms to diversify into non-agricultural activities 4. Creating and developing small rural businesses The range of grant available will be from £5,000 to £100,000 for Cheshire. The maximum grant for Greater Manchester is £20,000. Organisations and businesses interested in applying are asked to look on the NWDA website at www.nwda.co.uk/rdpedirect for full details of each project, information on eligibility and how to apply.
Lancashire Local Action Groups
Rural Planning Facilitation Service
Three Local Action Groups who will be delivering a wide range of activities including advice, training, grants for rural businesses and rural communities have now been launched in Lancashire. These are the Pennine Lancashire, North Lancashire and West Lancashire groups. The Programmes provides funding for the following types of activities:
Cumbria Rural Enterprise Agency’s award-winning Rural Planning Facilitation Service is to continue for another three years.
• Grants for farming and forestry activities • Grants for rural businesses and community projects • Training and information provision • Farm diversification into non-agricultural activities
The Service, which is available to farmers looking to diversify and to small rural enterprises throughout all of rural Cumbria, is run by the Cumbria Rural Enterprise Agency. It complements the business and environmental advice which is available through the agency. Full details of CREA’s programmes, advice services and activities can be found at www.crea.co.uk.
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Regional Activity THE LIVESTOCK PROGRAMME Livestock farmers can apply for support to improve productivity and farm competitiveness. The following organisations have been appointed to deliver support work across three main headings: Resource Efficency and nutrient management - Enquiries should be
Animal health and Welfare planning - Enquiries to Ian
Monitor Farms and a dedicated NW Livestock ICT network - contact Kath
addressed to Sandra Callwood of Promar on 0870 870 7380 or scallwood@promar-international.com
Cairns, SAC Consulting on 0845 604 0535 or ian.cairns@sac.co.uk
Lowe at Myerscough college on 01995 642255 or klowe@myerscough.ac.uk
Further information available at: www.livestocknw.co.uk • CUMBRIA Two Local Action Groups are developing projects which will support businesses, maximise training and skills development and provide opportunities for rural Cumbria. Which of the 2 Local Action Groups covers your area? Fells & Dales Local Action Group covers the central Lakes area and the south and east of the county T: 01768 869533 E: info@fellsanddales.org.uk Solway, Border & Eden Local Action Group covers the northern and north eastern areas of the county, as well as much of the western coastal plain. Solway, Border and Eden LAG temporary contact details T: 016973 49212 E: info@sbeleader.org.uk
• LANCASHIRE There are three Local Action Groups in the Lancashire area:
• MERSEYSIDE Support is available through a Local Action Group, Mersey Rural Leader, under 6 project themes: • adding value cooperatively, • equine business groups, • sustainable biomass, • carbon audits /recycling, • rural retail, • tourism networks Contact the Merseyside LAG on 0151 4435590 jonathan.jackson@knowsley.gov.uk • CHESHIRE Grant funding is available for adding value, farm diversification, micro-enterprises, cooperative ventures and tourism networks. Please see the RDPE website: www.nwda.co.uk/rdpedirect for more information. Also for help in the parts of southern Cheshire Contact: Northern Marches Local Action group. T: 01244 402229 or 07734 132405 E: david.boyce@cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk
Pennine Lancashire Contact: Rick Patterson – T: 01254 300496
• GREATER MANCHESTER Grant funding is available for adding value, farm diversification, and micro-enterprises.
North Lancashire Contact: Sharon McGuinness – T: 01254 300469
Please see the RDPE website: www.nwda.co.uk/rdpedirect for more information.
West Lancashire Contact: Karen Kerrigan – T: 01254 300481
For help in the east of the area, Oldham and Rochdale - Contact: The South Pennine Local Action Group via Pennine Prospects. T: 01274 431019 E: graham.joyce@pennineprospects.co.uk
FURTHER BUSINESS SUPPORT IS AVAILABLE TO FARMS AND MICROENTERPRISES: • BUSINESS LINK NORTHWEST provides high quality, impartial business information and advice to businesses across the region. It is also the gateway to all public and private sector business support. Business Link Northwest can be contacted on 0845 00 66 888 or visit the website at www.businesslink.gov.uk/northwest
For details of other RDPE funding in the North West view the following web-sites: • Agri-Environment Schemes www.naturalengland.org.uk/regions/northwest
• English Woodland Grant Scheme (EWGS) contact: www.forestry.gov.uk/northwestengland-grants
This Bulletin is available on www.nwda.co.uk/rdpe. For further information contact Sheila Moffat on 01768 861321.
The European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development: Europe investing in rural areas