Partnerships of local organisations and people (local action groups) received funding for two purposes:
- Identify development needs within their rural communities
- Develop and test small-scale, innovative, sustainable pilot projects.
Government Office for the South West is responsible for implementing LEADER+ in the region. We also administer funds, help monitor the programmes and offer support and advice to the local action groups.
There are six local action groups (LAGs) in the South West:
- Blackdown Hills Rural Partnership
- Dorset Chalk and Cheese
- North West Devon
- Somerset Levels and Moors
- Sustain the Plain
- Teignbridge Rural Regeneration Partnerships
The South West received £8 million from the European Agricultural Guidance and Guarantee Fund. Defra provided match funding totalling £4 million, as well as contributions from local authorities, the Regional Development Agency and the private sector. Local action groups could approve new projects up until the end of December 2006. Funding for these projects must be spent by the end of December 2008.
The SW LEADER+ programme has supported over 270 projects.
