Ayrshire Leader » Are we Eligible

LEADER is a flexible grant funding programme which can support small projects with budgets of a few thousand pounds through to much larger projects with budgets in excess of £200,000. All applications will be considered on their individual merit and their fit with the two key themes of Revitalising Rural Communities and Building Rural Community Capacity.

Can our Group apply?

The Programme is open to:

Properly constituted organisations and social enterprises
Private individuals where sponsored financially by public bodies, clubs and societies thus ensuring a wider community benefit than a pure economic benefit
Business partnerships and capital companies where sponsored financially by public bodies, clubs and societies thus ensuring a wider community benefit than a purely economic benefit.
Public agencies
Collaborations between groups, private companies and individuals listed above in an appropriately constituted form.

How much can we apply for?

Applicants may be eligible for up to a maximum LEADER grant of 50% of the total eligible project costs.
Project funding will be made up of two or three elements as follows: a maximum of 50% from LEADER funds, local match funding (from either public and/or private sources) and the beneficiary (group/organisation) contribution of a minimum of 5% of project costs.
The total amount of public grant support may not normally exceed 95% of the LEADER project's eligible costs. If this 95% limit is exceeded, any reductions in funding will be made in the LEADER support.
Where the applicant is a public organisation, 100% of funding may be from public funds.
A minimum project grant request of £1,000 applies.
LEADER grants are paid on eligible defrayed projects costs only and once appropriate evidence of expenditure has been provided. Please ensure that you have an adequate cash flow management system in place to allow your project to progress.
No other match-funding may come from European sources e.g. ERDF, SRDP Rural Priorities etc.

What information do we need to supply in our application?

You will need to supply a variety of information to support your application, details of which will depend on the nature of each project being considered. Some examples might be: details of the community group and constitution, any planning permission or building warrant, evidence of community consultation and/or evidence of a need/demand from within the community, estimates of equipment/services being provided, detailed proposals of the project including who is going to undertake the work, and letters of the community's own contribution and match funding being in place.

Please note that with immediate effect (4th July 2011), the following procurement requirements must be adhered to, without exception, when seeking the supply of goods or materials, for the provision of services or for the execution of works procuring any goods and services using LEADER funds: All works with an estimated value of between £0 and £29,999 are subject to a minimum of 3 written quotations.

All requirements with a total value equal to or greater than £30,000 must be tendered and shall normally be advertised on the National Advertising Portal www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk

Expenditure must not be disaggregated, packaged or split into separate smaller purchases to avoid application of the purchasing threshold requirements.

State Aid

State Aid rules only apply to organisations involved in economic activity ("Undertakings"). The organisation does not have to be profit-making if the activity carried out is one which has commercial competitors. In some instances, public and voluntary sector organisations such as charities and universities, could be classed as undertakings. Please read the 5 questions below, if yes is selected for all five questions then State Aid is involved. Where 1 or more of the criteria appears not to be met, then funding is unlikely to constitute State Aid:

Is the measure granted by the state or through state resources (the answer to this is yes, LEADER)
Does it confer an advantage to an undertaking?
Is it selective, favouring certain undertakings?
Does the measure distort or have the potential to distort competition?
Is the activity tradable between member states?

Is there a State Aid issue?

We recognise that this topic can be complex and would ask that you contact the office if you have any questions relating to State Aid and your project.

What can funding be used for?

Below is an example of what LEADER may fund, however this list is not exhaustive and you should contact LEADER staff to discuss:

Environmental improvements including enhancements to building facades and improvements to footpaths and cycle paths

Provision of visitor/tourist facilities

Feasibility studies

Staff costs (project specific ONLY)

Promotion and Marketing

Materials and Equipment

Events

Training

Professional Fees

Childcare costs

Lease or rental of premises

Construction of new community facilities or refurbishment of existing facilities

It should be noted that all eligible project costs must relate specifically to the LEADER project delivery and must NOT contain any existing costs or general organisational running costs.

The LEADER Programme Coordinator can help you to identify eligible activities and expenditures.

Funding cannot be awarded retrospectively i.e. expenditure incurred prior to a project receiving approval cannot be claimed for.

What can't funding be used for?

Below is an example of what LEADER will not fund, however this list is not exhaustive and you should contact LEADER staff to discuss:

Current organisation or group activities.
Meeting statutory or legislative requirements.
Routine repairs and maintenance.
Statutory responsibilities of housing, health, social work, school (main curriculum) and higher education

Given the objectives of LEADER and the level of financial resources available to the Ayrshire Local Action Group, projects encompassing substantial physical works are not generally common, however there may be elements within capital projects which could be eligible for funding - please contact the LEADER office to discuss.