Learning and skills

The community-led Lanarkshire LEADER Local Development Strategy has been launched.

The strategy sets out the priorities and objectives against which applications for funding will be assessed by the Lanarkshire LEADER Programme until 2020. A new development is the inclusion of part of the North Lanarkshire rural area to the south of Cumbernauld and east of Airdrie and Wishaw.

South Lanarkshire Council Provost, Councillor Eileen Logan unveiled the new strategy at Clydesdale Community Initiatives (CCI) in Lanark recently.

The Scottish Islands Federation (SIF) is pulling together a report on the challenges and opportunities that matter most to Scotland’s island communities and needs as many groups as possible to take part in its survey ‘Meeting the Challenges – Scotland’s Island Communities’.

The Tyne Esk LEADER Programme was formally launched at twin events -  the Haddington Show on the 2 July and the Dalkeith Show on 9 July 2016.

Both events were well attended by, primarily, famers and families and the Tyne Esk LEADER stall was kept busy answering questions and entertaining children.  LEADER LAG members as well as the staff team were on hand at the stall throughout the two days.

A new agricultural and business training programme has been launched by the Scottish Association of Young Farmers' Clubs (SAYFC).

'Cultivating Futures' will provide access to affordable practical training, business and efficiency training and will include the SAYFC's own leadership programme 'Cultivating Leaders' and an online information hub.

The Cairngorms National Park Authority (CNPA) wants to hear your views on nine big issues in the Park including flood management, housing and economic development.

The Big Park Big Questions consultation has been launched to gather views on the key issues to be addressed in the next National Park Partnership Plan 2017-2022 - a management plan for the Park which sets out a vision and overarching strategy for managing the area.

Almost £550,000 of LEADER funding has been awarded to projects following the first round of decision making meetings with the Dumfries & Galloway LEADER Local Action Group.

Funding of £549,901.35 has been awarded to projects with a total value of £1,250,258.26. Supported projects were varied and include both The Whithorn Trust’s Iron Age Roundhouse which explores the history and heritage of the region, as well as farm diversification funding to provide an alpaca trekking experience!

This year's SURF Awards are open for entries in five categories.

These annual awards are open to any regeneration project in Scotland that is currently in operation or has been completed within two years of the September 2016 closing date.

The award categories are:

Know a farmer or farm business that deserves recognition? Enter or make a nomination for the British Farming Awards 2016 by 15 July.

Now in its fourth year, the awards recognise the hard work, innovation and determination of farming and showcase the achievements of farmers working in the UK agricultural industry.

The Amsterdam Rural Forum and National Rural Networks meeting brought delegates from across Europe to Amsterdam on 11 and 12 May for presentations, workshops, performances and even milk tasting!

This inspiring event was a chance to hear about innovative rural development projects making use of the arts and to reflect on how we, at National Rural Network Support Units, can be more creative in our work.

Scotland is being represented at this week's Swedish Rural Parliament, one of the largest gatherings for rural development in Europe.

Bill Sturrock, a member of Angus LEADER Local Action Group, and Sarah Hyslop, Ayrshire LEADER Programme Manager, are being supported by the Scottish Rural Network to attend the event.

The Swedish Rural Parliament event takes place in Visby, Gotland from 27 to 29 May. The theme for 2016 is 'Towards a balanced country'.