Amy Thomas – previously North York Moors, Coast and Hills LEADER Programme Manager
After a busy few years we recently celebrated making the final grant offers of the 2015-2020 North York Moors, Coast and Hills LEADER Programme.
Over the last four years we have successfully allocated nearly £3 million of European funding which has resulted in more than £5 million of investment overall in local communities and businesses, creating more than 65 new full time equivalent jobs and supporting around 30 farm businesses to invest in new equipment to make the way they farm more efficient.
Here are just a few of the fantastic projects that have successfully secured LEADER funding over the last few years.
The Spirit of Yorkshire, a whisky distillery in Hunmanby, received £34,798 of funding towards creating their new visitor centre, shop and café. The project created 4 new jobs and aimed to attract nearly 11,000 visitors in its first full year of operating.
Horse and Hounds, a new equine physiotherapy business in Rosedale, received grant funding of £37,687 towards an arena, stabling and a horse walker. This start-up business is providing employment for a local young person.
Funding of £175,960 was granted towards the extension of the Cedarbarn Farm Shop and Café in Pickering to create additional space for the café, shop, butchery and kitchen. Nine new jobs have already been created across all aspects of the business.
More than 20 farms from across the area received funding towards either mobile sheep handling kit with electronic weight systems and EID readers, or robotic milking machines. Dependent upon the type and scale of the equipment funding was applied for, grants received range between £2,500 and £75,000.
A contribution of £138,860 was provided towards the Infrastructure, access and interpretation improvements which were made at Boggle Hole. Coastal erosion issues and high visitor footfall meant improvements were essential along this popular stretch of the Cleveland Way.
Rural development funding can make things happen. Now that the LEADER Programme is coming to an end I’m looking forward to see what comes next.
If you’re looking for rural development funding the RDPE Growth Programme is open for applications until February 2020 – have a look here.
