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LEADER funding

In 2008 the Isle of Wight secured grant funding of £2.6 million to help boost the rural economy. Over the last 5 years funding has been allocated to over 100 projects across the Island. The current programme, which has now fully committed all available funding, will be closing in December 2013 and and so is not taking any new applications.

The money was available to farmers, growers and other rural based businesses including those involved in the tourism sector and rural communities. Applications were selected on a competitive basis to projects that best fitted with the priorities outlined in the Island’s Local Development Strategy. For information on the achievements of Isle of Wight LEADER todate, please take a look at our Achievement Summary page and downloads.


Image: Egg Grader at Little Duxmore Farm

The Themes selected for the Island applications were:

  • Increasing the economic value of farming and land management
  • Support for the wider rural economy
  • Increasing the vitality of the rural settlements
  • To promote the rural heritage

The Programme is now closed for new applications
However, if you would like to find our more, please contact Carol Flux on (01983) 201563 or email carol.flux@naturalenterprise.co.uk

Further reading

  • Rural Development Programme Implementation Plan
  • Sustainable Food and Farming Strategy Read more
  • South East Forestry and Woodlands Framework Read more

The new Rural Development Programme for England (RDPE) opened for business on the 18th January 2008 and will run to December 2013; it replaced the England Rural Development Programme (ERDP). The RDPE is jointly funded by the EU, through the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development, and the UK Government.
For more information about European Rural Development Click here