Kent Downs and Marshes Leader

Welcome to the Kent Downs and Marshes Leader website.

Kent downs and Marshes Logo

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 contact the Kent Downs and Marshes Leader team.

 

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 for further information, details of how to get in touch can be found on the Contacts page.

 

The Rural Development Programme for England (RDPE) is funded by Defra and the EU.

This site is currently under development.