A brand new funding programme is now open and ready for applications across York and North Yorkshire. With £692,000 available over the next two years the Rural Access to Opportunities Fund has been set up to provide investment in access to services in rural areas. It can provide 50% of project costs, matching contributions from other sources.

Projects should improve or maintain access to services by rural residents and be able to deliver economic outputs set within the context of sustainable rural communities.

“The remit for projects is very broad,” said Jane Johnson, project support officer, “voluntary organisations, community groups, rural businesses, social enterprises and local authorities can all apply to the fund for projects which will provide or improve access to services such as training, employment and provision of essential goods and services. So often residents in rural areas have to travel large distances to access such services and we need projects which will deliver these services more locally.”

Grants of between £10,000 and £50,000 can be awarded and the team will be working closely with Business Link, LEADER, Yorkshire Forward and the Area Tourism Partnerships to ensure that projects are complementary and not duplicate any existing service. The Rural Access to Opportunities Fund is provided by Yorkshire Forward and delivered by Rural Action Yorkshire and North Yorkshire County Council.

Further information about the fund is available on www.ruralyorkshire.org.uk or from Jane Johnson, Rural Support Officer at Rural Action Yorkshire tel 0845 313 0270 ext 234; 07540 691029 or by email jane.johnson@ruralyorkshire.org.uk