LEADER is a French acronym "Liaison Entre Actions de Développement de l'Économie Rurale" which roughly translates as 'Liaison among Actors in Rural Economic Development'. LEADER was a European funding programme designed to support rural development by providing grants to small businesses and communities. A total of £138 million had been available in England between 2015 and 2020 under the scheme.
In England, LEADER formed part of the Rural Development Programme for England (RDPE) and had been a major initiative for Rural Development since 1991.
Funding was delivered to Local Action Groups (LAGs) to fund projects supporting one or more of the six LEADER priorities:
- support micro and small businesses and farm diversification
- boost rural tourism
- increase farm productivity
- increase forestry productivity
- provide rural services
- provide cultural and heritage activities
LEADER Programmes in Leicestershire
You can find information of LEADER programmes held in Leicestershire below.
