Westmeath Community Development

Leader + Programme

“Improving the Quality of Life in Rural Areas”

The focus of the Programme will be to create the maximum level of awareness and understanding of rural development and the supports available.  It will assist a range of voluntary and community groups to work towards sustainability and enable existing groups and individuals to develop sustainable income generating projects.  It will do this by:

1.                   Continuing to build the capacity of community and voluntary organisations.

2.                   Stimulating and developing a spirit of enterprise.

3.                   Making individuals and organisations aware of supports available under the LEADER + Programme and from other sources.

Examples

       Advice, guidance and financial resources to assist Community and Voluntary groups.

       Delivering a Farm Family Resource Programme.

       A programme for Women in Rural Development.

       A programme for Rural groups working with the Elderly.

       A Youth Development Programme.

       Supporting the private enterprise sector.

       Supporting the development of environmentally friendly practices in business and in communities.

Training

Training Programmes will be provided which are aimed at:

1. Developing and enhancing leadership skills amongst the community and voluntary sectors.

2. Creating enterprise and employment opportunities particularly for women and young people.

Examples

       Training programmes aimed at encouraging new community activists and leaders.

       Essential leadership skills training,

       Specialist training programme for women in community development.

       Incorporating training on aspects of rural development into youth activities

       Supporting the development of a Youth Leadership Training Programme

       Supporting programmes in schools on rural development issues

       Developing Youth/Older People Linkage projects

       Improving the quality of life of people living in rural areas by enabling them to have access to local training, employment and  information,

       Training programmes for women returning to the workforce.

       Rural IT Training Programmes.

       Skills training in Information & Communication Technology (ICT) for crafts and other sectors.

       Development of locally based training facilities

       Informing and training rural dwellers, in particular farm families, on opportunities available to increase their income

       Information and training programmes on alternative sources of income for farm families.

       Specialist training on quality standards for small food enterprises

       Programmes to support conversion to organic farming.

Analysis & Development

Support will be provided for:

1. Planning the socio –economic development of rural communities
2. Research into the viability of innovative private and community project.

Under the Analysis & Development Measure support will be provided for feasibility studies, plans, resource audits and the development of prototype products and services thus ensuring that communities and individuals with innovative project proposals have access to professional expertise where required when required.

Example

       Research into initiatives, which will benefit farm families.

       Supporting the development of community area action plans

       Supporting research into viable ‘value added’ farm, craft and food products, alternative enterprises, and prototypes.

       Supporting research for sectoral and issue based groups.

       Supporting groups an individuals researching new market opportunities

        Supporting groups and individuals researching new market opportunities.

       Research the design of community buildings

       Identification of forms of alternative energy production.

Innovative Rural Enterprises, Craft Enterprises and Local Services/ Facilities

This measure will focus on job creation with an emphasis on innovative projects which:

1. Create sustainable employment.
2. Improve the delivery of local services especially in more rural areas.

Examples:

• Financial assistance for innovative enterprises delivering services in rural areas.
  
• Assistance for small craft enterprises.
  
• Soft supports and other assistance to enterprises
  
• Support for Community Enterprises.
  

Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Products

The aims of this measure are to:

1. Improve the capacity of local product producers in the agriculture and food sector to add value to their products.
2. Assist producers to diversify and to reach new markets,

Examples:

Supporting community initiatives in organic farming

Encouraging and supporting more people to set up viable alternative enterprise projects

Encouraging and supporting the development of more value added food products

Developing and expanding country markets

Providing support for marketing.

Environmentally Friendly Initiatives

This Measure will:

1.       Help communities and individuals develop projects in an environmentally friendly way

2.       Create employment.

 Examples:

          Supporting the establishment of recycling projects

          Supporting the establishment of alternative energy/renewable energy enterprises.

          Waste Management Initiatives.

 Enhancement of Natural / Built /Social Cultural Environment

 This Measure will:

1. Aim to make rural areas (where planning has taken place) more attractive places in which to live and work.  It will also generate a sense of pride and make rural villages more attractive to visitors.
2. Create the conditions necessary for rural communities to provide locally based services and to have accessible facilities

 Examples:

• Supporting communities to implement Area Action Plans/ Projects.
  
• The development of rural based information projects
  
• The development of community facilities
  
• The improvement in accessibility to facilities for people with disabilities
  
• The development of rural community based transport initiatives.
  

Encouraging and supporting the conservation of natural and cultural resources.