This page provides details about the various Community Initiatives programmes taking place around the North West.
If you would like to speak to someone about Community Initiatives, contact Eileen Chan on 0161 952 4546 or echan.gonw@go-regions.gsi.gov.uk

Urban II

There is one Urban II Programme in the North West covering the inner area wards of Burnley. The main themes are empowering the community, providing positive pathways for local people and developing safer neighbourhoods.

The total value of the Burnley programme is around £14 million, 50% of which is ERDF. It is managed by the Burnley Urban Programme Group through their Action Plan.

For further details on Burnley’s Urban II programme, contact Lynn Cooper on 01282 477 184 or lcooper@burnley.gov.uk or go to their website: www.betterburnley.org.uk/urban-2.htm

Leader +

LEADER+ is a European Community Initiative for assisting rural communities in improving the quality of life and economic prosperity in their local area. LEADER+ is the third LEADER Programme, and is preceded by LEADER I and II.
The LEADER+ programme runs from 2000 to 2006, and its aim is to encourage and support rural actors to think about the longer term potential of their area. It seeks to encourage the implementation of integrated, high-quality, original strategies for sustainable development designed to encourage experimenting with new ways of:
· Enhancing the natural and cultural heritage
· Reinforcing the economic environment, in order to contribute to job creation
· Improving the organisation abilities of their community

The programme is managed by Local Action Groups (LAGs) through the Action Plan process. LAGs are responsible for calling bidding rounds, receipt of project applications, appraisal and approval.

The three Local Action Groups (LAGs) approved for the North West are:

Cumbria Fells and Dales LAG
(£1,022,387 European Agriculture Guidance and Guarantee Fund (EAGGF)) which is concentrating on adding value to local products. The target groups are rural businesses and workers affected by restructuring. The LAG are working closely with North Pennines LAG (GONE) in developing combined projects focusing on quality of life, youth work and provision of locally-produced goods.

Contact: Geoff Brown 01768 869 533 or geoffbrown@fellsanddales.org.uk
www.fellsanddales.org.uk

Lancashire LAG
(£833,826 EAGGF) covering North and East Lancashire. The main themes are improving the quality of life and adding value to local products. The target groups are young people, the unemployed, the under-employed, and rural businesses undergoing restructuring.

Contact: Janet Mitton 01254 300 465 or janetm@elp.org.uk
web site: under construction

Northern Marches (England) LAG
(£607,700 EAGGF) covering South West Cheshire and North West Shropshire. The main themes will be making best use of natural and cultural resources, and adding value to local products. The target groups are rural businesses affected by restructuring, the unemployed, under-employed and young people.
Contact: David Boyce 01948-667580/ 07734-132405 or d.boyce@chestercc.gov.uk
web site: under construction

Further information on Leader +

The Leader + Network (www.ukleader.org.uk) is a valuable source of information on the programme and activity across the UK.

Further information can be found on the Defra website www.defra.gov.uk/erdp/leader/leaderhome.htm

Leader Europe www.rural-europe.aeidl.be/rural-en/index.html

Equal

Equal receives £237m from the European Social Fund, and is an initiative designed to fight discrimination and inequality in the labour market, both for those in work and for those seeking work, through transnational co-operation.

A national support unit run by Ecotec has been established (tel: 0121 616 3660) and details of the approved Development Partnerships and the publication Equal News can be found on their website (www.equal.ecotec.co.uk).

Further information on EQUAL

www.esf.gov.uk/

Interreg III

Despite the general strength of the North West Europe (NWE) area, it has some particular problems such as regional disparities, poor quality in urban areas, social exclusion and environmental pressures. All these threaten the competitiveness and attractiveness of NWE. The overall objective of the NWE INTERREG IIIB Programme is therefore to contribute to more cohesive, balanced and sustainable development of the European territory and the NWE area in particular, through an innovative and integrated approach to transnational co-operation on territorial issues.

For the latest progress on INTERREG III, go to http://www.interregiiib.org.uk/wnew.htm

Further information on INTERREG III

www.nweurope.org - the site for the North West Europe Programme.

www.interreg-atlantique.org/iiib/eng/guide/index.htm - this site contains information about the Atlantic Area Programme, with details of project ideas and useful documents for applicants.

www.interreg3c.net - the site for the INTERREG IIIC programme, containing a project search facility.