Grant

Applicants will be granted:

• Action 1 (Local Innovative Projects) - Normally maximum 50% of total project costs
• Action 2 (Trans Regional/Trans National) - Normally maximum 70% of total project costs

During 2010, and as a response to the economic downturn, the Scottish Government awarded some flexibility to individual LAG's to award up to 90% grant rates.  This increased rate can be awarded in situations where an application is particularly strong or where a strong case is made that match funding cannot be accessed elsewhere. 

Additionally, as of Summer 2010, projects can now apply for over the normal £50,000 ceiling if a particularly strong case is made. 

Funding cannot be awarded retrospectively i.e. expenditure incurred prior to a project receiving approval.

Match Funding?

Applicants will need to have matching funds, either from the organisation's own funds (normally a minimum of 5% of the total project cost), private sector match funding or other public sector match funding. The LEADER grant cannot be released until all this match funding is in place and confirmed.  LEADER is considered a 'funder of last resort'.

To assist groups researching for match funding or if your project does not qualify for LEADER funding the East Lothian 4 Community website (www.open4community.info/eastlothian) or Midlothian 4 Community website (www.open4community.info/midlothian) are a free online funding search tool especially for local organisations in East Lothian.

What information do I need to supply with the community application?

You will need to supply a variety of information, details of which will depend on the nature of each project coming forward. Some examples might be: details of the community group and constitution, any planning permission or building warrant, estimates of equipment/services being provided, detailed proposals of the project including who is going to undertake the work, and letters of the community's own contribution and match funding being in place.