News from Sowing SEEDS
Friday, 23rd April 2010
The first Sowing SEEDS Local Action Group meeting proved highly successful, with more than 50 members attending the meeting, held at Nadder Hall in Tisbury.
The first presentation was made by Leisure credits - The Young enterprise Initiative, which aims to involve young people in practical work and nature conservation across south Wiltshire. The project aims to improve the vocational skills, knowledge and understanding of the environment of young people, which will inevitably lead to them to take more responsibility for the rural environment around them.
The Local Food Town Initiative was also seeking funding in order to develop clear and replicable criteria for the designation of a “Local Food Town”. The project will initially work towards achieving the status of Local Food Town for Shaftesbury and will then roll out the process within the Blackmore Vale and Cranborne Chase areas.
The final project was Motcombe Community Shop Ltd, a group seeking funding to establish a thriving community led shop in the village. To ensure the early success of the shop the funding will help support initial training of staff and volunteers, to refurbish the shop and cafe and to restock the shop making local food a centrepiece of what the shop is able to offer.
Who is eligible?
So who is eligible for funding? Every project that Sowing SEEDS supports must fit with the aims and objectives of the programme – these lay out what the Local Action Group is attempting to achieve over the lifetime of the programme and beyond. We can support rural businesses involving local products, services and skills. We will also support projects which develop opportunities from local culture and heritage and projects providing sustainable economic growth through the enhancement of the area’s natural or built environment. We will help support projects which test and pilot new ideas and set up demonstrable projects which can then be shared across the region and beyond as examples of excellence and distinctiveness. We will also aim to support projects which empower and engage young people. Above all the projects we support must be innovative and community led, bringing economic benefit to the area and sustaining local communities.
Join the growing number of projects that are coming forward and find out if your project idea may be eligible for funding. The next Local Action Group meeting is on the 6th May so you have plenty of time to prepare.
To discuss your idea, call Sarah on 07826 907361 or email sarah@sowing-seeds.org or visit the website www.sowing-seeds.org .
Author: Sarah
