02/08/11…Use your expertise to help develop the rural economy

WOULD you like to be involved in deciding how money is spent developing the local rural economy? Local people are being encouraged to get involved with the Southern Oxfordshire LEADER Programme. Volunteers become a member of the Local Action Group (LAG), the body that oversees the delivery of the LEADER Programme across Southern Oxfordshire.

The LEADER initiative is a European funded locally-led rural development programme which aims to ensure that local people decide how the money is spent, placing the responsibility for local action in the hands of local people.

The LAG, which is similar to a board of directors, has responsibility for setting the overall strategy of the programme, monitoring individual projects, shaping the programme?s development plan and providing guidance to the programme’s staff.

LAG members meet five times a year and work in partnership with those from other organisations to ensure a mix of knowledge and expertise in supporting and overseeing the Southern Oxfordshire LEADER Programme.

The Southern Oxfordshire LEADER programme aims to strengthen the rural economy and support rural communities. Since its launch in June 2009 the LAG have committed more than