12th January 2010
Close to £310,000 has been provided to twelve Aberdeenshire projects ranging from youth employment and environmental initiatives to village hall developments and building restoration works across the north-east.
The projects all received funding as part of Rural Aberdeenshire’s LEADER programme, which has approved 66 projects, with a total of £1.9 million awarded towards total project costs of £7.5 million.
Since the launch of LEADER in June 2008, Rural Aberdeenshire Local Action Group (LAG) has considered a variety of projects reflecting its key aims to revitalise communities and encourage a progressive rural economy.
The projects that received a share of £309,853 from Round Six of LEADER funding are:
| Project |
LEADER Award |
| Pitsligo Castle Consolidation and Repair of Structure - Phase 1 |
£47,205 |
| Aberchirder Square Environmental Improvements |
£29,295 |
| Glamourhaugh Allotments Creation |
£25,690 |
| Rothienorman Bowling and Community Facility - Phase 2 |
£11,881 |
| Laurencekirk Memorial Park Project - Phase 2 |
£24,135 |
| Aberdeenshire Life Education Centre (ALEC) Programme |
£33,000 |
| Young People's Employability Project |
£70,050 |
| Port Erroll Public Hall Improvement Programme |
£36,161 |
| Developing Opportunities Through Sport (Rugby) |
£13,000 |
| Food Access Rural Environment (FARE) |
£9,452 |
| Echt Showground and Community Access Improvement |
£4,984 |
| Strachan Village Hall Kitchen Enhancement |
£5,000 |
| Total |
£309,853 |
LAG Chairman, James Knowles, said: “We have been running LEADER in Aberdeenshire for 18 months and can see the tangible benefits to communities as result of projects being delivered on the ground.
“The latest round of applications further consolidates the positive impact LEADER funds have in our rural communities.
“There are projects that relate to regenerating rural settlements, promoting sports development for young people, conserving sites of historical importance, health and wellbeing projects linked to provision of rural services and local food production.
“There is also an exciting project which will target employment opportunities for young people, a key strategic objective within Aberdeenshire Community Planning Partnership priorities.”
LEADER Co-ordinator Vicky Thomson, added: “Participants in the LEADER programme continue to bring forward innovative, well researched projects which are aimed at delivering community benefit. We expect this trend to continue in 2010.
“One of the most positive aspects of LEADER is the breadth of partnership match funding that is levered in towards the projects. It’s a win-win situation for the stakeholders involved in the projects.”
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