Inspiring Projects from the East of Scotland  

Forth Valley and Lomond LEADER recently attended a thought-provoking event at the Scottish Parliament, organised by the East of Scotland European Consortium (ESEC). The event was organised to highlight the quality of EU funded projects  to MSPs and Minsters to celebrate the achievements to date and to consider these achievements during the Brexit negotiations. 

ESEC members including: Angus, Aberdeen City, Aberdeenshire, Dundee City, Falkirk, Fife, Perth & Kinross and Stirling councils, showcased key projects from diverse sectors including technology and innovation, rural development, the creative industries, hydrogen transport, poverty alleviation and education and training programmes.                                                                                                                                          

The event was lively and interactive with displays from Dundee Council and Abertay University’s Create Converge project showcasing games, virtual reality and how this can support education and learning. Other project’s included; Kirriemuir’s DD8 youth project that works to empower young people through music, Aberdeen City Council’s Hydrogen Buses and many more projects demonstrating how European funds are helping to tackle social and rural inequalities. Further information about the projects showcased can been found via the links below:

• Aberdeen City Council: The Hydrogen Transport Economy - advancing the adoption of hydrogen as an alternative energy vector across the North Sea Region
• Aberdeenshire Council: Supporting the sustainable development of coastal communities via European fisheries funding
• Angus Council: LEADER, a community-based rural development programme
• Dundee City Council: Create Converge, an INTERREG creative industries project to help companies make the most of visualisation tools, supported by Abertay University
• Falkirk Council: European Social Fund employability project, Business Gateway and an INTERREG project on Northern Connections and Kelvin Valley and Falkirk LEADER.
• Fife Council – Erasmus projects, the EU programme for training, youth and education
• Perth and Kinross Council: Assisting the unemployed in Perth and Kinross to gain sustainable employment via the European Social Fund
• Stirling Council: European Social Fund - tackling poverty by helping individuals find employment or training opportunities

FVL LEADER also showcased at the event;  the programme awards funds to businesses, farmers and communities in the rural areas of West Dunbartonshire, Clackmannanshire and Stirlingshire. To find out more and how you can apply please take a look at our website: www.fvl.org.uk