FAQs
When can I apply?
You can apply at any time whilst the Programme is still running. It ends on 31st December 2013 (or sooner, if all of the funds allocated to the LEADER Programme nationally are taken up).
Is there a deadline for applications?
No. You can apply at any time whilst the Programme is still running. Applications are considered regularly by members of the North Northamptonshire Rural Action Partnership. In the early stages, there is no possibility of the overall Programme running out of funds, although some “measures” may receive more applications than others, perhaps leading to funds for that measure being exhausted more quickly.
However, this is a “demand led” Programme and if quality applications are received for measures that have “run out of funds”, all is not lost as the Partnership can then consider whether a re-allocation of funds is appropriate when considered against the objectives envisaged in the development strategy. In the light of the right quality of applications being received, if the Partnership wishes to request a re-allocation of funds to another measure, approach can be made to see if resources can be switched from other parts of the East Midlands Region or, ulitimately, via DEFRA and the European Union for resources to be switched between regions. We cannot, of course, guarantee that any such request will be sanctioned.
How much money can I get?
The maximum amount is limited only by the total funding allocated by the EU and DEFRA to the LEADER Programme. However, we cannot assume that funds will be switched between measures, regions or, even, countries so, realistically, the maximum amount that can be applied for is the amount allocated to North Northamptonshire for the whole Programme (ie £1.5M). In practice, we intend to spread the funds widely across the NNRAP area and across the various measures. No artificial limit is imposed at enquiry stage but a realistic response will be given as early as possible. We want to hear from you if you have a project that you think might fit our criteria and that we might be able to help you with, irrespective of size, although a minimum grant of £5,000 is in place, simply to exclude very small projects which are not what the Programme is targeted at.
How much match funding do I need?
In an ideal world, you should have enough funding available to match the grant applied for (ie 50/50). However, there could be some flexibility, particularly in respect of the Tourism measure and, to some extent, under the Conservation and Upgrading of Rural Heritage measure. It is not expected that grants for any projects will be approved without some element of cash match funding.
Listed below are those activities (or “measures”) that we can support with our LEADER/RDPE grant funding:
311 Diversification into non-agricultural activities
312 Support for the creation and development of micro-enterprises
313 Encouragement of tourism activities
323 Conservation and upgrading of rural heritage
331 Training and information related to the above activities
421 Co-Operation activities to help deliver the above activities
What can I use for match funding?
Match funding can be any private source of funds, ie personal finance, bank loans, donations and money raised within the local community. It cannot normally be other public funding, although some other sources of public funding may allow a LEADER Grant to be the match for their funding. In these circumstances, we would still expect some element of private funding to be involved so that the project is not 100% public funded. In-kind match funding can be considered for some activities but there should still be an element of private cash funding.
Who can apply?
There isn’t a simple answer to this. For some projects, eligibility is defined by who you are (eg a farmer, an existing or prospective business owner or a rural community group) and for others, eligibility is defined by the nature of the activity (eg Restoration of Rural Heritage). Applicants are likely to be farmers, rural business owners (or prospective owners), rural community groups, etc. However, if you have what you consider to be a good project and you’re not sure if or how you might fit the criteria, contact us for advice.
How do I apply?
If you feel that you have a project that might qualify, you need to read our Investment Prospectus in the first instance to see if you project idea might fit the criteria for LEADER funding. If you think we can help, ideally, please contact the LEADER Programme Manager in the first instance for an initial chat to see if you are on the right lines, or if you are confident that your project fits the criteria, complete and submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) form.
We can assist you in developing your project ideas if appropriate and we shall often recommend that you seek other specialist advice before you submit an EOI. This might entail, for instance, the preparation of a Business Plan and Cash Flow forecast or consultation with planning authorities if the project includes the construction, alteration or change of use of, or improvements to, a building. We can make suggestions as the best source(s) of such information and other such specialist advice relating to, say, retail services, tourism quality standards (eg accommodation accreditation) etc. In other words, we would assist you in finding the right contacts to enable you to carry out proper research into your project at an early stage in the process. We want your ideas to be sustainable beyond the initial, grant-aided stage and to be worthwhile in their own right from both the applicant’s and the funder’s point of view.
Once an EOI has been completed (with or without an initial discussion), the LEADER team at Northamptonshire ACRE carry out a check for eligibility and, if it meets the criteria, the members of the NNRAP are consulted for their opinions as to whether the project is something that we wish to assist. At this stage the NNRAP members are obliged to declare any interest in the project and, if appropriate, withdraw from any further involvement in the grant application decision process.
If the consensus is that the project is worthy of support, a pre-application eligibility check is carried out (to ensure that the project is, in every way, compliant with EU, DEFRA and any other relevant regulations) and, if all is well, the applicant is invited to complete a full application, supported by all relevant documentation for consideration.
This application is checked against the details in the EOI (to ensure that the project is still fundamentally the same as originally envisaged) and a final eligibility check is carried out by emda before the application is put before a full meeting of the NNRAP at the earliest opportunity. Full meetings are held quarterly in early March, June, September and December. To ensure that there is no untoward delay in dealing with full applications, powers are delegated by the full NNRAP to an Approval Panel that can be convened between full meetings. All members of the NNRAP will have been acquainted with both the EOI and the full application (usually by e-mail) before a final decision is made by either the full NNRAP or by the Approval Panel.
The full process will take an average of 4-5 months to complete, depending upon the complexity and nature of the project.
When will I get the money?
Payments can only be claimed in arrears; receipted invoices must be attached to any claim. Please note that any expenditure incurred before receiving a written offer of a grant will not be eligible for grant aid. Please consider the “cash flow” implications of this when deciding how you might proceed with your project.
Is there a right of appeal?
We shall go to great lengths to ensure that, if a full application is invited, it is likely to be approved by the full NNRAP. However, there may be circumstances in which the NNRAP decides not to approve an application and, if so, there will be good reasons for the decision that will be communicated to the applicant. To ensure fairness, we have an Appeals Panel, drawn from the membership of NNRAP, that can be convened when necessary. In the same way that we can help at the EOI and Application stage, because the LEADER Programme Manager at Northamptonshire ACRE is not involved in the decision, he can, if required, help with preparing any appeal.
How does the Local Action Group (the NNRAP) decide who will get funding?
The NNRAP has set out its priorities for the period to December 2013 in its Local Development Strategy (LDS) and agreed these with the EU and Defra (via emda). These priorities will be reviewed on a regular basis. The NNRAP are looking for projects that meet the eligibility criteria and deliver the objectives and targets set out in our investment prospectus (as revised from time to time).
How can you be sure that there won’t be a conflict of interests from NNRAP members?
As stated in “How do I apply” above, NNRAP members are obliged to declare whether they have any interest in the project and, if so, withdraw from any involvement in the decision making process.
In addition, partners are bound by rules of confidentiality when dealing with project applications so that your project ideas cannot be “stolen” and used by a partner or passed on by a partner to another party.
