Welcome to Forth Valley and Lomond LEADER

 Latest News

10th May 2012
"Stirling Tastes Good" at The Royal Highland Show - Events organiser contract is advertised.
STEP is looking for an enthusiastic persons with a passion for events organisation to work with them and with eight food and drink companies to develop enad manage the first collective exhibition under the "Stirling Tastes Good" banner.
Event Organiser/Marketing & PR Co-ordinator
Please click above for the contract advert. The closing date is Thursday 17th May 2012.
Funding for the project has been raised from participating businesses and FVL LEADER in partnership with STEP.

25th April 2012
Saving Scotland's Red Squirrels - West of Scotland, Jobs Advertised.
SWT (Scottish Wildlife Trust) have recently advertised two jobs created with funding support from Argyll & The Islands LEADER, FVL LEADER and Loch Lomond & the Trossachs National Park Authority.
Red Squirrel Project Officer (Part-time)
Grey Squirrel Control Officer (Full-time, seasonal).
Please click on the jobs above to access job ads, job descriptions, overviews and application forms. The closing date for the Red Squirrel Officer Officer post has been extended to Friday 27th April '12 and the Grey Control Officer post also has a closing date of 27th April '12.

16 March 2012
FVL Local Action Group AGM was held on 15 March 2012.  Peter Sunderland and Gary Groves were re-elected as Chair and Vice Chair to serve a further term.  A copy of the Chairman's report can be downloaded here.

27 September 2011
Report on Forth Valley Next Generation Broadband visit to Sweden
A visit to Sweden took place at the end of August to learn about the roll out and use of fibre optic networks (allowing superfast and top quality internet, as well as video-conferencing, telephone and televison).  Delegates were drawn from all aspects of rural living and business in the Forth Valley, and all were amazed by how fibre optic networks have permeated everybody's lives in Sweden, making living and working so much easier, more comfortable, more productive, more efficent, more competitive, whilst also better for the environment. Download a copy of the report here or view the video report

20 September 2011
New Scottish LEADER Brochure available All 20 LEADER areas across Scotland have got together to produce a brochure for LEADER in Scotland.  Each area has selected 3 case studies to reflect a particular characteristic that LEADER aims to support, as well as giving examples that of community (or business) led economic, community and environmental activity.  Download a copy of the brochure from www.ruralgateway.org.uk/en/node/3887

14 July 2011

Forth Valley & Lomond LEADER is now on Facebook!  If you want to receive the latest news about LEADER as it happens, news from the projects we are involved with and relevant news from other organisations in the area, then 'Like' our Facebook Page
http://www.facebook.com/fvlleader

12 July 2011

Are you interested in setting a up a Community Broadband Network? Then we want to hear from you!  Access to fast-speed broadband is an issue for a number of rural Forth Valley & Lomond communities, so if your community is keen to set up its own community broadband network, then please get in touch ketteridgea@stirling.gov.uk

10 June 2011
Newly launched! Sustainable Tourism Business Grant Scheme in FVL LEADER area A new grant scheme aimed at small rural tourism businesses in the Forth Valley and Lomond LEADER area has just been launched. This one year pilot will see Stirling Enterprise (STEP)'s Rural Business Advisor Sandy Slater work with small businesses and social enterprises to bring eligible projects to the FVL LEADER LAG for possible grant funding of up to £10,000. Click herefor more information. The full press release is available here

1 March 2011
Funding for Large Capital Projects up to £200k is still available from FVL LEADER, until funds run out.  LEADER now has the ability to fund large capital projects in the rural area, as long as these projects fit with the FVL LEADER Strategy and are led, managed (long term lease) or owned by the community.  A maximum of 50% of eligible project costs, up to £200k, is available. The application process is the same as for other LEADER projects, whereby an Initial Enquiry Form is required to register your project with us.

22 December 2010
High Speed Broadband for Rural Forth Valley Forth Valley and Lomond LEADER Local Action Group is delighted at the news that its bid to bring WiMAX broadband to the Forth Valley as part of the Scottish Government’s Rural Broadband Challenge Fund was one of only five bids in Scotland to be approved by the Scottish Parliament last Friday. More...

20 September 2010
FVL LEADER Announces launch of Building Paths for Community Capacity Scheme
Small path projects are now eligible for support from community organisations based in the Forth Valley and Lomond area.  Awards of up to 50% of costs, maximum £10,000 are now available for groups who can show the path project will help build project management skills and experience for future community run projects.  Criteria for applying to the scheme and information on how to apply is available here

Next Deadline for Applications
Applications for the current round of LEADER funding must be with the LEADER office by 25 April 2012.  Applications for the next round will need to be with the LEADER office by 25 July 2012.

Fast track applications (under £5,000) can be submitted at any time.

LEADER is a rural development programme aimed at small-scale, community-driven projects that are pilot and innovative in nature.  

We assist those inspired to take forward innovative or pilot projects which are supported by the wider community. By awarding grants of up to 50% of eligible costs, we want to help you to improve the quality of life in your communities in rural Forth Valley and Lomond through projects which bring about revitalised communities and enhanced natural environments.  

Our area includes rural Falkirk, Clackmannanshire, Stirling and part of West Dunbartonshire lying within the Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park. (It excludes Alloa, Bo'ness, Falkirk, Grangemouth, Polmont, Stenhousemuir and Stirling City).

For a map of our eligible area click here.

To view our promotional  flyer click here.

The Forth Valley and Lomond LEADER programme is managed by a Local Action Group or LAG which brings together people from the community, rural businesses and public agencies.
Forth Valley and Lomond LEADER is one of twenty LEADER programmes currently operating throughout rural Scotland.

Funding of £3.73 million has been awarded to the Forth Valley and Lomond area as part of the Scotland Rural Development Programme 2007 - 2013. For a link to the Scotland Rural Development Programme (SRDP) click here.  For the latest information on issues affecting rural Scotland, please refer to the Scottish Rural Network website