Launching the Heart of Wessex Local Action Group

Celebrating Local Business

• Do you want to sustain the high quality of life in your area?
• Are you passionate about improving the rural economy?
• Do you want to support opportunities for growth and employment?

The Heart of Wessex Local Action Group (LAG) has recently received £1.74m of European Union funding to invest in rural businesses and community initiatives to improve the rural economy throughout the LAG area.

Help us celebrate the opportunities that this funding programme offers at a launch event:

Wednesday 17th June 2015 (from 6pm)
Cheese & Grain, Frome

We are offering 20 businesses the opportunity to exhibit and promote their businesses to a new audience at this exciting event - Completely Free of Charge!

Interested in being part of something really special?  Please book your exhibition space without delay!

For more information, contact Sarah Dyke-Bracher on 07826 907361
or sarah@heartofwessex.co.uk

You will hear how the programme works, how you can get involved through the Local Action Group and help decide where the money is invested, and how projects can apply for funding. It’s an open meeting, so everyone is invited!

The funding will be available from summer 2015 to the end of 2020. It is really important that the programme makes a real difference – leaving a legacy that everyone benefits from. This means the programme needs to be very focused on what it wants to achieve.

Timings

Set up will be from 4pm. Refreshments available from 6pm onwards and the event will kick off at 6:30pm.
We expect to finish at about 8.30pm. There is plenty of parking at the Cheese & Grain and it’s free after 6pm!

We look forward to seeing you on Wednesday 17th June.
www.heartofwessex.co.uk

Launching the Heart of Wessex Local Action Group

• Do you want to sustain the high quality of life in your area?
• Are you passionate about improving the rural economy?
• Do you want to support opportunities for growth and employment?

If so, we need your help!
The Heart of Wessex Local Action Group (LAG) has recently received £1.74m of European Union funding to invest in rural businesses and community initiatives to improve the rural economy throughout the LAG area. Come and help us celebrate the opportunities that this funding programme offers at:

A Launch Event
Wednesday 17th June 2015
Cheese & Grain, Market Yard, Frome, Somerset BA11 1BE

Hear how the programme works, how you can get involved through the Local Action Group and help decide where the money is invested, and how projects can apply for funding.  It’s an open meeting, so everyone is invited!
The Local Action Group forms the central part of the programme, it’s an open group, and all the members have a fair and equal say on which projects should be supported, as well as giving overall guidance on the direction of the programme.  The Local Action Group will officially launch at the 17th June meeting.  Don’t miss it!
The funding will be available from June 2015 to the end of 2020.  It is really important that the programme makes a real difference – leaving a legacy that everyone benefits from, this means the programme needs to be very focused on what it wants to achieve.
Your Interim LAG Executive Committee continues to work on achieving this focus to ensure the programme gets off to a flying start.  The Interim Executive Committee is made up of a range of key organisations and individuals from across the Heart of Wessex area, all who have been working really hard over the last few months on your behalf! Decision making powers are delegated to this Committee and formal elections to form the Executive Committee will be held at the launch event. If are interested in standing for election on the Executive Committee, please get in touch.

Timings

There will be refreshments from 6pm onwards and the meeting will kick off at 6:30pm.  There is plenty of parking at the Cheese & Grain and it’s free after 6pm!  If you know you are coming, please book your place; it will help plan for catering.

We look forward to seeing you on Wednesday 17th June.
To book your place, please use the Eventbrite link below:
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/launching-the-heart-of-wessex-local-action-group-tickets-16081569407

Funding available to support rural jobs

LEADER is a community-led European funding programme that supports rural development.

In the last LEADER programme (2007-20013) the AONB was covered by the Sowings SEEDS Local Action Group (LAG).   The LAG enabled £1.6m investment in 35 projects including community shops, renewable energy, butchery and wood processing initiatives.

Hindon Community Shop – Copyright Carolyn White, Barn near Sixpenny Handley – Copyright Mike Boss, Artisan Produce, Salisbury Farmers Market – Copyright Carolyn White, Woodland Industry, Barford St Martin – Copyright Stephen Ward

The next LEADER programme will start in January 2015 and LAGS will be able to award grants to suitable projects that support economic growth. The AONB will be covered by three LAGs in the coming programme covering Wiltshire and Somerset, Dorset and New Forest.
Please contact the LAG that covers your area if you have any questions, if you’d just like an informal chat about an idea for a project or about joining the Local Action Group.

Each LAG is currently drafting its bid to secure the funding.  Please take the time to look at the draft bids when they become available for consultation on the LAG website and let the programme mangers know if have any comments.

Wiltshire

The Heart of Wessex Local Action Group, area incorporates the high quality environment of south Wiltshire, south Somerset, and parts of Mendip. It includes the settlements of Wilton, Tisbury, Mere, Wincanton, Bruton, Castle Cary, and Crewkerne. It also includes the larger town of Frome. 
The main aim of the Heart of Wessex of Wessex LAG is:
“To act as a catalyst for supporting the development of vibrant, independent and interdependent rural communities based upon strong economic growth.”

It will do this by:
•    Generating a diverse and sustainable rural economy and support entrepreneurial activities(targeting micro and small businesses, farming and farm diversification, forestry and woodland and rural tourism enterprises)
•    Realising the benefits from the high quality natural environment, culture and heritage
•    Sustaining community facilities and services

The Heart of Wessex LAG provides an opportunity to stimulate economic growth at a local level and make wide ranging and sustainable changes within the area.

Website: www.heartofwessex.co.uk  
Contact:  Sarah Dyke –Bracher, Heart of Wessex Programme Manager
Tel: 07826 907361
E mail: sarah@heartofwessex.co.uk

Dorset

The Northern Dorset Local Action Group covers North and East Dorset and the Sherborne area.
Contact: TBC

Hampshire

The Hampshire part of the AONB is covered by the New Forest Local Action Group
Website: www.newforestleader.org.uk  
Contact: Sally Igra, New Forest RDPE (Leader) Programme Manager
Tel: 023 8028 5588
E mail: sally.igra@nfdc.gov.uk