LEADER is a European Commission initiative to support the development of rural areas across the European Union. There have been three ‘rounds’ of Leader as a programme in its own right - LEADER – I (1991-1994), II (1995-1999) and LEADER+ (2000-2006). All have been EU co-financed programmes focussed on the social, economic and environmental regeneration of rural communities.
Under the new RDPE Programming period (2007-2013) LEADER will become a ‘mainstreamed’ delivery mechanism for Rural Development Programmes. The key difference being that the LEADER approach will be a delivery mechanism for the RDPE, not a discrete Programme and it must be used to deliver at least 5% of the EU funds within the RDPE.
The LEADER approach adopts an area-based and locally-led approach to rural development, with the ability to focus on local needs and be organised and managed locally. There is no prescribed model for a local LEADER Programme with flexibility to develop a programme in a way which suits the area.
There are seven principles which encapsulate the LEADER:
- An area based approach
- Managed and implemented locally by a local partnership, the Local Action Group (LAG)
- A multi-sectoral strategy – integrating different sectors, stakeholders and projects
- A ‘bottom-up’ approach with decision making at the local level through the involvement of local stakeholders
- Encouraging innovation and experimentation at project and programme level
- Incorporating the opportunity for inter-regional and trans-national co-operation projects as well as local projects
- Using networking to stimulate cooperation and exchange of experience from the local to the trans-national level.
LEADER is able to deliver benefits for the historic environment and landscape within England, and English Heritage is working closely with Defra, Regional Development Agencies and Local Access Groups to support and assist this delivery wherever possible.
Other sources of LEADER information
