Leader Plus

The South West regional aim for Leader + is described as:  “To enable and facilitate the South West’s rural communities in developing programmes for action to retain and strengthen their cultural distinctiveness, economic viability and quality of life,  through integrated rural development which conserves and enhances the special character and diversity of the Region’s environmental assets”.

The initiative aims...

• to build capacity in local rural communities to encourage them to think about the longer-term potential of their area and to work together to address, in sustainable ways, the needs and issues identified;
• to support local rural communities in developing and implementing integrated, high quality, innovative strategies for sustainable development to identify new ways of:

1. facilitating the development of competitive and sustainable rural economies which will help to create jobs and increase economic opportunities;
2. improving the quality of life for people living or working in rural communities by improving access to services and helping everyone to achieve their full potential;
3. protecting and enhancing the natural and cultural heritage and diversity, including extending access to the countryside and developing quality rural leisure opportunities; and improving the organisational skills of local rural communities.