The Southern and North Dorset Dorset Local Action Group will open for grant applications to the LEADER programme in September. The Local Action Group (LAG) has been awarded €2.02 million from the Rural Development Programme to support projects in rural businesses and community organisations. The LAG wants to hear from people who would like to be involved, helping to decide where grants would make the most difference and to monitor the progress of the programme and the projects they fund.
The only requirements you need to take part are an enthusiasm for your local community or business sector; knowledge of the LAG area and one or more of the project areas the LAG funds: farming, tourism, forestry, rural businesses, culture & heritage and rural services. The LAG area covers the Purbeck District, Portland and West Dorset District Council areas from Lyme Regis to Dorchester. The Sherborne area is covered by Dorset’s other LAG – Northern Dorset. This is the first time that organisations based in Dorchester have been able to benefit from LEADER funding so the LAG will welcomes members from the town.
The first meeting of the Southern Dorset LAG will be at Charlton Down Village Hall on 17th September at 6.30pm. Find out more about the meeting and joining the LAG at any time at the website www.dorsetleader.org.uk. You can join at the meeting or by contacting the James in the Programme Team. James can be contacted at 01305 225525 or by emailing [email protected].
Members take part in LAG meetings, visiting projects and finding out more about different aspects of rural life, work and the countryside of Dorset. You can choose to stand for election as Chair or Vice Chair of the LAG or stand as an ordinary member of the LAG’s decision making group, the Executive Committee. This group approves projects for funding and elections are held annually for these posts. The first election will be held at the LAG meeting on 17th September and all registered LAG Members are eligible to vote. However, please note that to stand for election or to vote at the meeting you must register for LAG membership before the 1st September 2015. More information about the elections and a nomination form can be found on the website.
Sarah Harbige
