Grants varying from a few thousands to more than £100.000 are to be made available to Yorkshire Dales communities with plans for projects to on social, economic or environmental themes.

They are on offer from the Dales LEADERA scheme, which is backed by Yorkshire Forward and other local authorities and organisations under the leadership of the Yorkshire Dales Millennium Trust, set up to mark the arrival of the year 2000 and – unlike many other similar programmes in other parts of the country – still going strong.

LEADER is now offering more groups the unique opportunity to apply for funding, which can be anything from £5,000 to £150,000, and in some cases can cover up to 80% of the total project cost.

Coordinator Rima Berry said “LEADER is a fantastic opportunity to have some lasting and new initiatives going on for the benefit of our local communities, heritage and the dales culture. If groups think their plans for their communities might be supported through LEADER I’d urge them to get in contact as soon as possible so the opportunity is not missed.”

To be considered applications must be from properly constituted groups, not businesses, and aim to benefit the local area or community. LEADER will give priority to projects which provide basic services for the economy and rural population, village renewal and development, and conservation and upgrading of the rural heritage.

For further information on the area covered and the application process please contact: Rima Berry, Dales LEADER Coordinator, YDMT, Tel: 015242 51002, email; rima.berry@ydmt.org or visit www.yorkshiredalesleader.co.uk