LEADER is the European Union’s Community Initiative to promote the development of rural areas and to encourage rural communities to identify and unlock their potential for growth and longer term sustainability. LEADER+ builds on the earlier LEADER I & II programmes of the 1990s which showed that the initiative had produced tangible results in rural development and that its philosophy and methodology was a recipe for success. The ‘LEADER’ approach involves highly individual projects designed and executed by local partnerships to address specific local problems. The LEADER approach underpins the Axis 4 work of the Rural Development Plan for Wales.
(The word LEADER is an acronym in French which means “links between actions for the development of the rural economy)
LEADER in Pembrokeshire
LEADER in Pembrokeshire
Projects identified in Action Plans were taken forward by LEADER+ and tourism plans. The LEADER+ initiative was designed to develop a change in the thinking of local people so that looking for entrepreneurship opportunities over the widest range of activities and resources becomes part of the way of life.
The programme had six key activities:
- Plugging the Leaks – to identify how money leaked out of the local economy
- Irrigating the Desert – to investigate how to support & encourage the local economy
- Area Development Groups
- Entrepreneurship Action Plans
- Economic Gardening
- Pembrokeshire Enterprise Network
Communities were assisted to take forward proposals in their Action Plans including:
- Environment / Recycling Awareness Days
- Feasibility Studies for communities
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Enhancement Studies were funded which in Maenclochog led to:
- Assistance with finding funds for refurbishing and extending Maenclochog Hall
- Commissioning and presenting a report into the site of Maenclochog Castle
- Funding the undergrounding of cables in the village centre of Maenclochog.
Local History & Sense of Place
- 20 communities took part in the Community Heritage training programme
- Communities were helped to apply for ‘Awards for All’ funding in order to develop a community heritage leaflet.
Supporting Enterprising Communities Activities included:
- Local Business Directories & Web Site
- A “Buy Local” initiative
Business Groups
- Business Circles
- Pembrokeshire Growers Association
- Rural Retailers/Shops
- Country Markets
Festivals & Events organisers were supported with:
- Training
- Guide
- Network
- Area Leaflets
- Waterway Experience
- Energy & Recycling
- Energy Savers
- Plastics Study
Niche Tourism
- Experience Pembrokeshire - Sense of Place
- North Pembrokeshire Tourism
- Narberth Area Heritage Group
- Extending the season research and development
Sustainable Agriculture
- Pembrokeshire Sustainable Agriculture Network
- Farming Connect Facilitation
Creating a Culture of Entrepreneurship
- Ideas for plugging money leaking from the local economy were developed on a Plug Tree e.g. Local Products, Heritage Tourism
A Transnational Project – Linking Heritage and Culture to Development of Tourism - attracted 38 people to information meetings. Activities included:
- Musicians in Crymych learning old Pembrokeshire Folk Songs – joint project with Trac. Two performances have took place – The Sloop, Porthgain and Caffi Beca which was attended by 22 Transnational partners from Spain, Slovenia, Czech Republic, Finland, Ireland and Scotland.
- 12 local people attended Celtic Fiddle Workshop in Stackpole Centre.
- 9 local people travelled to Ballyhoura on a Study Visit to learn how the Irish support folk music, dancing and storytelling.
- Funding an archaeologist to support community involvement in a Cambria Archaeology dig at West Angle – 11 volunteers took part, nine in taster sessions and 200 visitors.