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SOWING SEEDS

Innovation, collaboration, income generation and community support are integral to every application to Sowing SEEDS and we want to hear from innovative projects that support rural businesses by increasing collaboration in the local products sector, shortening local products supply chains, raising awareness of the sector and providing training opportunities, or ones that help people make the best use of their natural and built heritage for economic gain by trying out sustainable technologies, developing heritage and landscape management skills, or raising awareness and sustainable use of these assets, or finally projects which develop enterprising activities from local cultural heritage by improving understanding of local culture and supporting enterprise developed from that.

So, Sowing SEEDS particularly welcomes innovative project applications from businesses wishing to collaborate, and community social enterprises; projects which will encourage economic development in the area by supporting rural businesses and encourage local communities to develop their own income generating opportunities and activities that will have a long term impact on the area. The funding programme is very much about supporting initiatives involving rural products, skills and services, i.e. businesses which are essential to a rural area – the fund cannot support a general business or enterprise which happens to be taking place in a rural area.

We also welcome innovative and income generating applications from social enterprises that fall within the strategic objectives of the programme (Sowing_Seeds) – All projects must be able to clearly justify how they fit into at least one of the funding criteria below and explain how the project will meet the outcomes of the programme objectives (see section “Outcomes – we’ll know we’ve achieved it because…”):
 

SO1 – Supporting Rural Businesses involving Local Products, Services and Skills:

• - by increasing collaboration between businesses that are key and appropriate to rural areas, in particular the local products sector, and strengthening the network,
• - by optimising the supply chain, particularly in terms of sustained food security
• - by providing training opportunities relevant to improving the local economy
• - by promoting rural enterprises and new employment opportunities
• by understanding & strengthening the role of market towns as economic and employment hubs for the surrounding rural area.

 
SO2 – Providing increased opportunities for social and economic growth through the conservation and enhancement of the area’s natural and built environment:

• - by supporting projects which address energy efficiency, climate change and sustainable construction and agricultural diversification, together with the associated skills and knowledge gathered for future generations,
• - by supporting the development of traditional and new heritage and landscape management skills and techniques, and
• - by raising awareness and understanding, and improving access to and ownership of the natural and built environment.

 
SO3 – Developing opportunities from local culture and heritage to engender a sense of shared identity, leading to the development of innovative community enterprise:

• - by improving communities understanding and use of local culture and heritage to improve their quality of life,
• - by developing social enterprise based upon local culture, environment and the products derived from them.

In order to ensure full participation in the Local Action Group, and equal access to the opportunities available through the grant funding, there are two ‘process’ objectives. They have a smaller budgetary significance than the Strategic Objectives but allow for projects to come forward that support greater participation and engagement with the Programme.

PO1 – Empowering Young People*:

• - by supporting communication with, and participation of, young people in LAG activity and local governance
• - by ensuring equitable representation in the LAG and LAG Exec
• - by proactively involving young people in the design of projects.

 
* young people: young individuals and groups of all ages including those within schools, colleges and other community organisations.
 
PO2 – Sustaining Local Communities:

• - by looking always for job creation,
• - by engaging the local community,
• - by encouraging active participation in the Programme, and
• - by the development of the projects seeking support.

For more information contact Sarah Dyke-Bracher or visit the Sowing SEEDS website Sowingseeds.

Sarah Dyke-Bracher, Programme Manager – Sowing SEEDS
Tel: 07826 907361

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