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Kent Downs and Marshes Leader
Welcome to the Kent downs and Marshes Leader website.
The RDPE Leader Programme
The RDPE Leader Programme is a European Union rural funding approach, with grant money available to rural businesses and communities from late 2008 until 2013.
Leader can provide grants of up to £50,000, depending upon the project, although match funding will be required in many cases. This money can be provided towards capital or revenue costs, and is available to social and community groups, and to rural and land based businesses. Projects seeking funding must be able to fit with the overall strategies of the Local Action Groups, broadly these are:
- improve the competitiveness and sustainability of Kent's land-based sectors through diversification, innovation, and adding value to products
- fostering sustainable rural tourism and related businesses
- assisting rural communities and businesses in managing change and combating rural deprivation
For examples of the types of projects the Kent Downs and Marshes Leader programme has previously funded, see Leader Case Studies.
There are two Leader areas in Kent, each managed by a panel of local representatives, known as the Local Action Groups.
The Kent Downs and Marshes group is assisted by Kent County Council, and covers parts of:
Medway
Swale
Maidstone
Ashford
Canterbury
Shepway
Dover
To be eligible for funding through a Leader Local Action Group, your business must lie within a Local Action Group area. To find out whether you are located in a Leader Local Action Group area, see the Kent Downs and Marshes Leader Eligibility Maps, or use the SEEDA Postcode Lookup Tool, found on the SEEDA LEADER pages
The West Kent area is being led by the West Kent Partnership and covers:
Sevenoaks
Tonbridge and Malling
Tunbridge Wells
More detailed information on the RDPE Programme, including funding eligibilities and restrictions and intervention rates, is available on the DEFRA website it may also be useful to read the Key information for applicants leaflet which can be downloaded here. Alternatively please contact the relevant Programme Manager:
West Kent Area:
Caroline Lingham- West Kent Leader Programme Manager
(01732) 227000 westkentleader@sevenoaks.gov.uk
Kent Downs and Marshes Area:
Huw Jarvis- Kent Downs and Marshes Leader Programme Manager
(01622) 696940 huw.jarvis@kent.gov.uk
Richard Hall- Kent Downs and Marshes Leader Project Officer
(01622) 221389 richard.hall@kent.gov.uk
Key documents for applicants can be downloaded from the Apply to Kent Downs and Marshes Leader page. If you need any assistance please contact the Leader Programme Manager.
The Rural Development Programme for England (RDPE) is funded by Defra and the EU, and managed by SEEDA.
This site is currently under development.
