Mar 07, 2016
Moray Key Priorities P3
A word from the Chairman—Priscilla Gordon-Duff P5
Update from the Programme Manager—David Watson P6
Case studies: P9
Speyside Paths Network Group P11
WDCS P12
Miltonduff Hall Committee P15
Moray Art Centre P16
Film Forres P19
Wild Things! P20
Summary of activities 2011—2012 P22
Approved project summaries P24
Moray LEADER goes international P29
Moray LAG representatives P30
Project photo credits P30
Survey Monkey review P33
Contents
2
Moray Key Priorities
LEADER in Moray focuses on two overarching themes, namely:
Revitalising Communities
Progressive Rural Economy
The priorities the LAG strategy is focusing on are:
Sustainable communities
Sustainable energy
Innovative value added products and markets
Sustainable tourism development
Innovative micro enterprise
Versatile rural workforce
Conservation of the rural environment
3
4
A word from the Chairman Priscilla Gordon-Duff
Congratulations to everyone who appears in this
Report. The year has been almost breathtaking in
the amount of activity. As you turn the pages you will
see smiling faces, active people of all ages,
wonderful views...all reflecting the impact of the
LEADER Programme during the past year. And,
yes, there have been meetings around tables,
accounts produced, forms completed, emails
galore....all demonstrating the tremendous energy
and enthusiasm within communities across Moray.
This Report aims to let you see just how much
innovative activity the LEADER Programme has
encouraged.
Just as there is a variety of individuals involved in
each application, so there is in the delivery of the
Programme itself:
There is a team of two that directly deliver this varied
Programme....David Watson, Programme Manager
and Mairi McCallum, Programme Co-ordinator.
David’s expertise and immediate availability to
answer applicants’ questions is highly valued by
those who have participated in the Programme.
Mairi only arrived in post in August 2011....and what
a difference she has made. Almost immediately she
was organising a visit by our Transnational Partners
from Sweden, involved in our very successful
relaunch held at Miltonduff Village Hall. By
December she was in Sweden with David and myself
to visit potential projects for co-operation with
projects in Moray.
There is The Scottish Government and delegated
Lead Partner, The Moray Council. By working in
partnership within the Local Action Group they are
leading the way in making a difference to how
people are involved in achieving economic, social
and environmental benefits for the places where they
live and work.
There is the Local Action Group that I chair, whose
members spend hours considering applications.
Their understanding of the variety of people, places
and organisations across Moray plays an important
part in the decision making process and to the
development of the LEADER strategy.
A big thank you to you all: past, present and future.
Together you are all inspiring change and creating
opportunities.
With good wishes
Priscilla
Priscilla Gordon-Duff
5
Update from the Programme Manager David Watson
Albert Einstein defined insanity as ―doing the same
thing over and over again and expecting different
results‖. This definition can also be applied to
persisting with more traditional methods of economic
development.
The LEADER Programme, and the methodology
underpinning it, directly challenges this way of
approaching rural development by ensuring that
innovation is at the heart of every investment made
by the Moray Local Action Group (LAG).
2011 has seen a number of changes in the way the
Moray LAG has delivered LEADER across the rural
areas of Moray.
Operationally there has been a change in staffing.
Lindsay Grant, the original Moray Leader
Programme Coordinator, left her post to
move on to pastures new. I would like to take this
opportunity to thank Lindsay for the contribution she
made to the programme in its infancy.
LEADER now moves onwards with a new member of
staff, Mairi McCallum, who has brought with her
significant experience of the voluntary sector and
has already made a huge contribution to the
programme through her knowledge of marketing and
her invaluable IT and social networking skills.
The value of the staff resource provided by the
Moray Council should not be underestimated. In an
age where most funding applications are completed
and submitted on-line, with the applicant waiting with
fingers crossed for a response, the importance of
having two full-time members of staff at hand to help
navigate your way through the labyrinth of due
diligence cannot be overstated.
Having this resource in place is implicit in effectively
delivering an innovative rural development
programme. It is often stated that LEADER, as an
EU investment programme, is by its nature overly
bureaucratic. However, it must be highlighted that
there is a big difference between bureaucracy and
best practice.
Any organisation that engages with the LEADER
methodology practiced in Moray should come out of
the process a more confident and sustainable
organisation. LEADER is not just about forcing
applicants to ―jump through hoops‖ for the sake of it,
but to leave organisations in a stronger position to
move forward into the future.
Other significant developments during the year
include rebranding the LEADER Programme in
6
Moray to try and spread the message about the
rewards that involvement with LEADER can bring.
This included an event at Miltonduff Village Hall in
October 2011 where we brought together as many
LEADER applicants as possible to network and take
pride in their achievements whilst at the same time
encouraging new applicants to learn about LEADER
and its benefits. The event was attended by over 75
people and the LEADER office has not stopped
working with new projects since.
In the past year the Moray LEADER LAG has
entered into a Transnational Cooperation agreement
with our new friends in Upplandsbygd LAG in Central
Sweden.
Cooperation is another of the key principles of
LEADER and we are already learning from a
different perspective how LEADER is implemented in
another rural area of Europe. For the duration of the
cooperation it is planned to share knowledge, good
practice and ideas, and set up new international
networks. It is hoped that this cooperation will help
participants to be inspired and develop sustainable
projects within their own rural communities.
Over the past year there has also been a significant
advancement in the operation and governance of the
LAG as a rural development organisation. The LAG,
and the programme as a whole, has developed a
strong strategic identity and this will be of
considerable value as we look ahead to the
immediate future, and perhaps more significantly,
the more long-term imbedding of innovative rural
development models into a strong, resilient and
sustainable Moray.
David Watson
Moray LEADER Programme Manager
7
8
Case studies 9
10
Speyside Paths Network Group The Mortlach Story Walks
The Speyside Paths Network Group (SPNG) had originally developed a series of linked
pathways through the woodland and countryside surrounding Dufftown, and was looking
for funding to link the pathway infrastructure to other path networks in the wider area.
When the children in Dufftown Primary School
began work on an environmental art project linked
to the John Muir Award, LEADER recognised the
potential for bringing together two projects with
mutual interests.
Phase One was the school project, which was in the
process of creating a range of arts-based
interpretation materials, and which led naturally into
the SPNG path network project, still under
development. All 168 pupils researched the history
and environment of Dufftown, helped by visits from
countryside experts, while a writer, visual artists and
a designer helped the children to develop a variety of
artworks and information materials, including story
walk leaflets. The children participated in recruiting
the arts professionals; they worked to a brief, held
meetings with clients and acted as advocates for
and live guides to the project.
Mary Bourne, a professional sculptor who was also
a member of the parent council for the school, took
on the application process and describes a good
example of how LEADER got two empathetic
projects to work together:
―Moray LEADER gave a presentation to a meeting of
Parent Council representatives and when I contacted
David Watson to discuss the environmental art
project linked to the John Muir Award, we realised it
fitted well with the SPNG one.‖
―During initial meetings with LEADER, we identified
the qualifying criteria as stimulating visitor economy,
revitalising the community and engaging all
generations in an innovative rural development
initiative that created links between the community
and school.
LEADER was fantastic – very helpful. They helped
get the two projects working together and we were
able to apply for funding as a partnership.
We were awarded £7,500. The applications process
was very time consuming and as an unpaid
volunteer, I had to do lots of juggling. Having
said that, LEADER was very helpful, and I
always felt I could approach them by phone to
sort out any difficulties.
We had to record every moment of time spent on the
project. And it was hard to secure match funding.
Because you have to spend money before you can
claim it back, this could be a concern for smaller
charities, especially when there is a delay on paying
out on claims.‖
Project cost: £14,895
LEADER funding: £7,445 (50%)
Match funders: Ernest Cook Trust
Scottish Natural Heritage
Mortlach Parent Council
SPNG
Individuals who benefitted: 278
Individuals trained: 163
11
WDCS Establish Education Room and create Tourism Project
The Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society (WDCS) began working with LEADER when
it was looking for funding to renovate and equip an Education Room to accommodate
its visitor groups.
A shed in the Harbour Memorial Garden was made
fit for purpose, with in-kind help from local builders
and suppliers. LEADER funding enabled WDCS to
put in plumbing and electricity; it now has a SMART
board and everything for a fully functioning
classroom.
The other project, to develop tourism in the area,
looks at new ways of engaging the public with the
unique natural environment of Spey Bay, which has
a rich social history, and has SSSI (Site of Special
Scientific Interest) designation protecting several
rare wildlife habitats.
Alice Mayne, who manages the LEADER
funding for WDCS, explains how LEADER has
worked for the organisation:
―LEADER has a policy of bringing people together
who are doing similar things – that’s one of the great
advantages of working with them.
The Education Room and Tourism projects met the
LEADER criteria of contributing to a progressive rural
economy and revitalising the local community. These
initiatives create employment, deliver training and
learning opportunities to the resident community and
visitors, support an innovative tourism project and
help broaden WDCS conservation work.
We had several meetings with David to determine
the way forward for our applications – he gave us an
overview and was very helpful. From the beginning
we had decided to take a strategic direction and this
fitted well with LEADER’s vision.
We approached LEADER with a budget, discussed
the percentage we were looking for, and then
LEADER made a decision. WDCS provided the
match funding.
The application process was lengthy, but
straightforward. The reporting process is time
consuming because of the level of evidence
required. Compared to other funders, it’s
complicated – but it is worth it.
The level of detail required for the application
process is spot on. Over several meetings, David
helped us identify impacts on the local community
and changed our thinking on some aspects. For
example, we wanted to increase visitor numbers,
which meant we had to consider how we would
create additional parking. It was a good discipline
and the project was more rounded and effective
because of it.‖
Project cost: £2,325
LEADER funding: £1,000 (43%)
Match funders: Scottish Natural Heritage
WDCS
Individuals who benefitted: 792
Individuals trained: 97
New products developed: 1
12
13
14
Miltonduff Hall Committee Miltonduff Sports Hub
The idea of Community Sports Hubs was introduced by sportscotland, to be interpreted by
individual sports clubs in response to local needs and resources. The concept provides a
base for local sports clubs, where instructors can conduct joint training, hold meetings
and social events, share experience and knowledge, and promote their activities.
Angela Hyland and the management group of
Miltonduff Public Hall decided to set up a project to
develop the Hall into a Community Sports Hub. The
focus was to create a space for holding generic
courses such as Child Protection and First Aid, for
specific sports training via Sports Coaches UK, and
to foster youth development and participation in
sport.
The hall was in urgent need of upgrading to come up
to a suitable standard to host these activities.
The Sports Hub project matched four important
LEADER criteria – Innovation, Social Cohesion,
Sustainability and Continuity, which encouraged
the group to investigate further.
Angela Hyland says: ―We thought LEADER would be
right for us because of the innovative project we had
in mind.‖
―The fact that we had to provide a budget to work
from was a challenge,‖ Angela says.
As things turned out, the group received a lot of
support, including match funding from hall funds and
Wind Farm grants.
In addition, the architect was very capable, providing
budget flow charts and guidance, and the architect
fees were in kind, which all helped to build a suitable
cash flow.
Angela’s advice to other groups considering
LEADER funding is: ―Only apply if you have match
funding available and time to do the paperwork.‖
As Angela freely acknowledges: ―Having said that,
our hall is now in excellent condition and attracting
many users. The Sports Hub is creating interest as
we had hoped it would do.‖
In addition to the Sports Hub, the renovated hall is
bursting with other community activities and
events – play school, toddler group,
badminton, bowling, dancing, gardening club,
wedding receptions, birthday parties, funeral teas
and educational courses are just some of the great
uses of the hall, which has literally been given a new
lease of life.
Project cost: £52,288
LEADER funding: £38,888 (74.4%)
Match funders: Heldon Community
Council Wind Farm
Miltonduff Hall Committee
Individuals who benefitted: 345
Individuals trained: 150
15
Moray Art Centre Growth and Development
Moray Art Centre is an eco designed, purpose built Arts Centre, based on the Findhorn
coast, and aims to provide a stimulating environment for visual arts education and
appreciation.
Moray Art Centre offers free access to a community
gallery with meeting/study areas and an arts
reference library, and a main hi-spec gallery with the
ability to exhibit works from the National Collections.
The centre creates income by offering a wide range
of 30-40 weekly classes, workshops and
conferences in three flexible, rentable classrooms
and four individual artist studios, also for rent. Moray
Art Centre is strengthening its position as an
innovative art centre by creating new programmes,
such as apprenticeship for young people, master-
classes, international exhibition programmes,
international cultural exchanges and retooling for
the unemployed. The Centre has built up
relations with over 20 educational partner
groups and provided tailored made courses and
outreach programmes for clients. Major companies
such as LifeScan are now participating in bespoke
training with incredible results.
The centre itself, generates all its own heat and
electricity, is built of locally-sources materials and
serves as a resource centre for sustainable building
by using constantly renewable energy sources with
no associated pollution. The Centre is now
surrounded by a new educational ecological and bio
diverse garden that includes training areas in
traditional crafts such as wood turning/work.
Randy Klinger, Director of Moray Art Centre says:
―We met first with Moray LEADER to investigate the
potential for support to build capacity and capability
of our social enterprise. David Watson then helped
us to identify our project aims and how these would
meet LEADER’s stated priorities.
Our LEADER award was proposed to fulfil our social
aims. As Moray Art Centre is a charity, operating as
an unsubsidised social enterprise, we need to
generate more income. Our aim has to build capacity
and capability by investing in aspects of our
business that have the greatest potential to expand.
All our areas of capacity and capability building were
enhanced and improved through our LEADER
award, it enabled us to attract more participants/
visitors, create an international-museum-level
exhibition space - the first in Moray - and to upgrade
our equipment to be able to deliver a better, more
accessible and more effective service to the public,
altogether making Moray Art Centre more attractive
on a local, regional and now international level – to
the public and to major museums who will now lend
high-value exhibitions to provide greater learning
and appreciation to the public of Moray.‖
Project cost: £122,309
LEADER funding: £47,384 (40%)
Match funders: Third Sector Fund
Moray Art Centre
Individuals who benefitted: 1174
Individuals trained: 230
Number of jobs created: 13
16
17
18
Film Forres Film Forres Cinema
This project provided a digital HD cinema and multimedia facility for young people and the
wider community to use on a regular basis. It has had the added benefit of diversity of use
with a community focus in a public building that had been underutilised.
Margaret Cowie explains how the idea for Film
Forres came about:
―As part of my role as a Community Warden with
Grampian Police I organise activities to address
community issues. In October 2007 after
discussions with young people hanging about the
streets in the evenings I started Friday night Film
Shows in Forres Town Hall. This initiative helped
reduce anti social behaviour and encouraged young
people to attend a supervised activity.‖
The main hall had a seating capacity of 320 but due
to poor sound quality and no screen, films had to be
projected onto a wall underneath the balcony which
reduced seating to only 80 people. Over the 4 years
since the film nights started numbers grew with more
young people wishing to attend; a school survey
revealed that 86% of pupils wished a cinema in
town.
In March 2010 the Film Forres committee was
formed and fundraising began to create a modern
facility within the Town Hall.
Margaret approached LEADER as ―other groups had
applied to LEADER and been successful and had
nothing but praise for the help received. Another
reason was the amount of money we had to raise
(£37,870). Many of the funding pots available were
for much smaller amounts; although we had
organised lots of fund raising it would have taken us
a very long time to raise the total. The £15,000
applied for through LEADER meant if we were
successful that we could reach our goal much
quicker. It also meant that the community knew we
were committed to making the project happen.‖
Fundraising was successful and work was completed
in November 2011 in time for a Grand Opening on
2 December 2011. Since then there has been regular
screen sessions and a couple of additional events,
both in January: the Chinese New Year night and the
Toastmasters Event when they showed ―The King’s
Speech.‖
After her LEADER experience Margaret
advises anyone thinking of approaching LEADER
to ―keep records of everything they do so that there
is all the information needed to back up the
application, to do their research thoroughly including
need and demand, to make sure they fit all the
criteria asked for, and to go ahead as this is a very
approachable organisation who are there to help and
give advice.‖
Project cost: £37,441
LEADER funding: £15,000 (40.6%)
Match funders: MFR Cash for Kids
Awards for All
Co-op Community Fund
Forres Common Good
Film Forres
Individuals who benefitted: 400
19
Wild Things! Sustainable Enterprise on the Wild Front
Wild Things! works with vulnerable client groups in Moray to deliver activities which use
contact with the natural world to overcome educational, social or economic
disadvantages.
In 2009 Wild Things! was awarded Moray Leader
funding for a new project to encourage the
sustainable use of local natural resources to equip
clients with the skills, inspiration and qualifications to
become more enterprising and employable
individuals who value their local natural environment.
More specifically, the project :
Piloted new environmental enterprise training
activities that develop life and employability
skills
Increased Wild Things! capacity to provide
and develop these courses to vulnerable client
groups
Enhanced the biodiversity of Moray’s natural
heritage through practical conservation
activities.
Wendy Brash, Finance Manager, explains the
LEADER process: ―We approached LEADER for
match funding against this project. The application
process was quite lengthy but we were provided with
plenty of support. The reporting against the grant
was very time consuming but fairly straightforward
once we were made aware of all the evidence we
had to provide and why. LEADER helped us to put
our ideas down in an application, assisted with our
strategy and guided us through the whole process.‖
Wendy continues: ―David Watson was very helpful
when it came to refining the project and clarifying our
main aims and objectives to achieve success.‖
LEADER is not always a simple process as Wendy
comments: ―LEADER is a great source of funding if
you have the right criteria and the personnel
available to deal with the application and claim
process. We did not fully appreciate the time we
would have to spend when completing the claims
against the grant.‖
After the completion of this project Wild Things!
successfully applied to Moray LEADER for a second
project called Wild About Moray! which will enable
them to develop and pilot the first Woodland Activity
Leader qualification and Coastal Classroom Leader
qualification in Scotland. This will increase the
number of adults in Moray who have the skills,
knowledge and qualifications to lead environmental
education courses in a range of natural habitats in
Moray.
Project cost: £73,367
LEADER funding: £36,684 (50%)
Match funders: Children in Need
Wild Things!
Heritage Lottery Fund
Scottish Natural Heritage
Individuals trained: 561
Training courses delivered: 59
20
21
Summary of activities 2011—2012
Total number of applications: 25
Total number of approvals: 18
Total amount of LEADER funding committed: £432,159
Total amount of public match funding: £814,175
Total amount of private match funding: £1,417,627
Average intervention rate: 40.6%
Total number of projects withdrawn: 0
Total value of LEADER funding for projects withdrawn: £nil
Moray LEADER Programme to date Total allocated budget: £2,340,000
Total project budget: £2,111,080
Total admin budget: £228,920
Projects approved: 61
Commitment to date: £1,877,909
Uncommitted budget: £233,171
Project spend to date: £692,284
Total project costs: £7,988,232
Average LEADER intervention rate: 35.48%
(based on eligible costs)
22
23
Burghead Headland Trust—Visitor Centre Upgrade
The aims of the Trust are to increase the number of visitors to Burghead by providing a unique visitor
experience and thus encourage visitors to stay longer. In order to improve the present visitor experience,
the LEADER grant will go towards upgrading the Visitor Centre by extending it to add an indoor viewing
area and toilet facilities. The new viewing area will mean that visitors can enjoy views over the Moray Firth
in the shelter of the Visitor Centre. The interpretation will also be extended to cover more fishing and natural
heritage displays in order to teach more groups including school groups.
Total Project Cost: £178,300
LEADER funding awarded: £81,385
Film Forres - Film Forres Cinema
This project will provide an improved digital HD cinema and multimedia facility for all young people and the wider community to use on a regular basis. This will have the added benefits of diversity of use with a community focus in a public building that is underutilised. This will include the installation of a retractable stage screen, 6 surround sound bracketed speakers – 4 downstairs and 2 in balcony area, a trolley projector and a multi media control system in the balcony area. Total Project Cost: £36,928 LEADER funding awarded: £15,000 HIE – Forres Area Rising to the Challenge This project will support economic growth by encouraging the development of projects leading to a community growth plan which will identify alternative source of employment and economic activity. It will seek to address under employment, unemployment, youth aspirations, and social enterprise growth, striving to make the area an attractive well serviced area, well capable of responding to the opportunities and challenges of the future in an organised and collaborative way. Total Project Cost: £175,062
LEADER funding awarded: £87,531
Moray Reach Out – Strategic Business Review
Moray Reach Out provides work based training opportunities for adults with learning disabilities living in
Moray; it is a registered Social Enterprise. This short research project will identify new business
opportunities, new methods of working and opportunities to expand the existing business in order to offer
more training places and, potentially, genuine employment for learning disabled adults.
Total Project Cost: £10,000
LEADER funding awarded: £5,000
Approved project summaries
24
Forres Community Woodland Trust – Feasibility Study
The Community Woodland provides opportunities for community groups to take part in delivering local
services and any development would open up further opportunities for community cohesion through
activities such as voluntary work programmes, environmental education, the possible establishment of a
craft or training centre for land based activities. This study will explore and develop the concept of the
country park and create a momentum to take this idea forward to development.
Total project cost: £19,000
LEADER funding awarded: £9,500
Barnardo’s Scotland—Barnardo’s Works
Barnardo’s Scotland is committed to helping tackle the problem of rural poverty amongst young people
aged 16-24. It is recognised that young people in rural areas often face additional barriers to employment
such as poor transport links, isolation from services, isolation from training and employability services.
Barnardo’s are committed to helping these young people overcome these barriers into sustained
independent employment.
Total project cost: £98,541
LEADER funding awarded: £45,151
The Moray Council – Keith Conservation Area Regeneration Scheme LEADER funding will compliment the larger Mid Street Conservation Area project funded by The Moray
Council and Historic Scotland. It will support community initiatives and leadership work, education and
marketing. Total project cost: £1,898,188
LEADER funding awarded: £79,069
Wild Things! – Wild About Moray! Wild Things! use the local natural environment as a fantastic, challenging and freely available resource for
the personal development of children, young people and adults. LEADER funding will enable Wild Things!
to develop and pilot the first Woodland Activity Leader qualification and Coastal Classroom Leader
qualification in Scotland. This will increase the number of adults in Moray who have the skills, knowledge
and qualifications to lead environmental education courses in a range of natural habitats in Moray. Total project cost: £119,345
LEADER funding awarded: £53,120
Findhorn Foundation – Connecting Moray
This LEADER funded project will provide training, expertise and equipment which will enable the
development of a portable, web streaming facility allowing individuals to view conferences, training,
meetings and events. Total project cost: £25,175
LEADER funding awarded: £9,500
Scottish Orienteering Association – Orienteering Development Grampian is the most successful region in Scotland as far as orienteering club membership as a
percentage of the population is concerned and Moravian Orienteering Club has shown the largest
percentage increase in membership of all clubs in Scotland during 2010 to 2011. LEADER funding will
support a development worker to work in the Moray area to increase participation in orienteering amongst
individuals and families, increase the membership, financial strength and volunteer workforce of the local
clubs, and take orienteering activity to a higher level. Total project cost: £20,800
LEADER funding awarded: £9,200
25
Community Food Moray – Taste Not Waste Community Food Moray promote healthy eating across Moray. LEADER funding will enable them to provide
a social hub at their Mosstodloch shop for isolated individuals promoting healthy produce, soups, smoothies
and health promotion information. They also aim to reduce waste from perishable items and increase the
promotion of health and well-being across Moray. Total project cost: £105,870
LEADER funding awarded: £47,870
Women of Moray – Women of Moray A group of Moray women have written a book telling the remarkable stories of some of the women across
the region uncovering some of the hidden history that is often difficult to find. The LEADER award will allow
them to promote the book through a series of events including a conference in March and a celebration
event in Rothes in September, the creation of a website for people to add their stories, and an art exhibition
at Elgin Museum. Total project cost: £6,690
LEADER funding awarded: £3,345
Moray Gig – Flying the Flag for Moray Atlantic Challenge Scotland operates the Moray Gig, a traditional oar and sail boat based in Findhorn Bay.
The gig was built in 2000 and provides short outings for up to 10 young people and adults at a time,
providing a team building experience in a challenging environment. The Gig and crew have been invited by
the Lord Lieutenant to represent Moray in the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Pageant on the Thames in June
2012. This will involve around 1000 vessels travelling together for about 10 miles on the river through
central London. The Gig will be one of 200 rowed craft at the head of the Pageant, preceding the Royal
Barge. Total project cost: £10,900
LEADER funding awarded: £4,900
Paths for All – Northern Demonstration Site Paths for All is committed to creating a happier, healthier, greener, more active Scotland and have been
researching potential sites for a third National Path Demonstration site. These National Path Demonstration
sites are designed to help people learn more about path development, construction and management and
de-mystify the technicalities. Feedback from our community group partners and other stakeholders show
that a northern site is required to improve access to facilities and training for people who live in the north
of the country. Total project cost: £20,000
LEADER funding awarded: £10,000
Moray Way Association – Moray Walking Festival The association was formed to link the existing footpaths of The Speyside Way, The Moray Coast Trail and
the Dava Way into a 95-mile long distance circular walking route. This project plans to promote the route by
holding a pilot four-day midsummer walking festival based on and around The Moray Way to publicise the
route and encourage visitors and locals to participate in fun walking activities at a time of year notoriously
slow for tourists. Total project cost: £18,350
LEADER funding awarded: £7,340
26
Outf!t Moray – The Bike Revolution
The Bike Revolution project will consist of a range of activities focusing on the recycling, refurbishment,
training, maintenance, hire and sale of second-hand bikes, and has developed from a recognised need for
the provision of these activities in the local area.
Total project cost: £60,086
LEADER funding awarded: £30,043
REAP – Who Feeds Moray?
REAP works in communities to address the issues that are important to them using social auditing,
community consultation and engagement, and by offering administrative support. Who Feeds Moray? will
employ a Development Officer for a period of 20 months for the purpose of establishing, strengthening and
developing a Moray Community Food Network (MCFN).
Total project cost: £95,150
LEADER funding awarded: £43,825
Lossiemouth Business Association
The feasibility study, options appraisal and valuation will be of major assistance in helping the Lossiemouth
Business Association to find out if this aspiration is viable with the potential of long term sustainability and
whether or not to proceed with the Scottish Government option of the Community Right to Buy.
Total project cost: £11,500
LEADER funding awarded: £5,750
27
28
Moray LEADER goes international Transnational co-operation with Sweden
Through transnational co-operation it is possible to improve the implementation of LEADER. It is believed that by sharing best practice and raising awareness, it enables participants to be inspired and develop sustainable projects within their own rural community.
In September 2011, following initial contact through
Rural Gateway, two staff members from Leader
Upplandsbygd came to Moray to meet with Moray
LEADER staff and several LAG members. While
here they were shown projects that fitted with four
target areas displaying innovation and good practice.
A return visit took place in December when two staff
members and the LAG Chairman of Moray LEADER
visited Upplandsbygd; again they visited inspiring
projects many of which will be involved with the
transnational project.
A co-operation between the two LEADER areas will
develop sustainability in four areas:
Transition towns
Three transition towns will participate – Forres in
Moray and Strorvreta and Sigtuna in Upplandsbygd.
They will investigate the different ways each
transition town has evolved and look at areas they
can work together to deliver the outcomes of the
transition movement.
Local food
There is an increasing demand for local produce and
several projects in Moray and Upplandsbygd have
been looking at food tourism and innovation in local
food.
Youth involvement
Young people in a position of direct influence will
come together to share experience and ideas which
they can then implement in their own area.
Many of these young people are also involved in
youth projects in their area and it is hoped that this
link will inspire them to start new projects within their
areas. It is also an opportunity for the young people
to learn about different cultures, find out what
differences they have but also what they have in
common; for young people living in rural locations it
is hoped that this experience will broaden horizons
and develop lifelong links.
LAG
Both LAGs will also be involved in the transnational
project giving them the opportunity to discuss the
LEADER method and how it is delivered
in their own countries. It will maintain the bottom-up
approach and keep the LEADER strategy alive.
Within each area we plan to share knowledge, good
practice and ideas setting up new international
networks.
In April 2012 the Leader Upplandsbygd LAG visited
Moray to kick off the co-operation project and a
series of visits between groups will take place over
2012—2013.
29
Priscilla Gordon-Duff (Chairman) Drummuir Estate
Alastair Kennedy (Vice Chairman) Joint Community Councils of Moray
Andrew Anderson Highlands & Islands Enterprise (HIE) Moray
Cllr John Russell The Moray Council
Debbie Herron Moray Social Enterprise Network
Drew McFarlane-Slack Scottish Land and Estates
Eileen Bush Voluntary Action Moray
Gavin Clark Scottish Natural Heritage
Inspector Craig Donald Grampian Police
Lesley Ann Parker Moray Chamber of Commerce
Matt Young Forestry Commission
Ron McIntyre Moray Federation of Community Halls & Associations
Rosella Smith Moray College
Ruth Anderson REAP Scotland
Tracey Gervaise NHS Grampian
Members who have left the LAG during 2011—2012:
Bridget Oakridge Paul Timms
Gary Matheson Inspector Jim Masson
Moray LAG representatives 2011-12
Project photos credits Front Wild Things!
P2 L Lossiemouth
P2 R Moray Art Centre
P3 Knockando Woolmill
P4 The Moray Council Street Football
P5 L Grampian Police Against Wildlife Crime
P5 R Findochty
P6 L Speyside High School—Rural Skills
P6 R Miltonduff Hall
P7 Wild Things!
P8 Miltonduff Hall
P10-11 Speyside Paths Network Group
P12-13 WDCS
P14-15 Miltonduff Hall
P16-17 Moray Art Centre
P18-19 Film Forres
P20-21 Wild Things!
P22 L Speyside Paths Network Group
P22 R Speyside Paths Network Group
P23 Wild Things!
P24 L Moray Gig
P24 R Moray Firth Partnership Gansey Project
P27 Knockando Woolmill
P28 Øregrund, Sweden
P29 Transnational images
P30 L Speyside Paths Network Group
P30 R Scottish Wildlife Trust
P31 Speyside Paths Network Group
P32 Moray Gig
P33 L Speyside Paths Network Group
P33 R LEADER event at Miltonduff Hall
P35 Moray Gig
30
31
32
Survey Monkey review Results of a LEADER experience review
In March 2012 the Moray LEADER LAG undertook a survey to assess the satisfaction level of
applicants to the Moray LEADER Programme 2007-13. 52 projects that had been approved,
rejected or completed were contacted of which 25 responded, giving a 48% response rate.
How would you describe your experience during
the:
What do you feel are the positive benefits of
LEADER?
What is the best unexpected outcome for your
group of applying for LEADER funding?
Our hall is now quite famous for the high
standard of amenity it provides and our
bookings have doubled. By word of mouth and
experience of using such a great facility we
are reaching out to a wider community and
this is putting our beautiful village on the map.
That we met the criteria so well.
Sustainability - We're still here!
Having been turned down by many Trusts,
LEADER recognised the efforts made and
'went the extra mile' to help with match
funding.
Becoming part of a community of projects.
Good relationship with LEADER staff.
Project development suggestions by the
LEADER manager, his ability and knowledge
of where other groups in Moray can
support/partner with us, helped in formulating
the final project outline.
33
34
LEADER put us in contact with another local
group and through that connection we formed
a partnership which made our project much
richer, better and with wider connections in the
community.
Achieving more than was thought possible -
which has allowed the project to develop.
What do you feel are the negative aspects of
LEADER?
We have been able to cope with all of the
above with the support of the Moray Leader
Team, without them this would have been
impossible.
Claims could be processed quicker.
If a recognised Audit Accounts are kept do
you really need payslips and bank state-
ments?
The other funders from which we have had
grants pay in advance with the proviso that if
not all money is used balance can be clawed
back
A percentage of money 'up front' would be a
huge benefit to small projects.
Simplifying the claim process
If funding was speeded up or paid in advance
to allow for cash flow
For us, the cash flow element is not an issue,
however for smaller organisations it is a
significant barrier.
The requirement for 3 quotes for everything,
uses huge amounts of time.
A lot of groups struggle with identifying
Innovation.
Has LEADER changed your way of thinking
about local community development?
How would you rate your Moray LEADER
experience?
Would you apply for LEADER funding again if the
opportunity arose?
It takes a lot of time, energy and nerve and I
would only do it with the quality of staff
support we have been given.
Make sure that you have looked carefully at
the project and know EXACTLY what you
want to achieve.
Talk first to local LEADER staff who will advise
on the project and the best way forward in the
view of LEADER.
Think about how the project will have ongoing
benefits. Provide evidence of community
need.
Consider if they have enough in the bank to
provide cash flow before LEADER funding can
be claimed and whether you can deliver what
you applied for.
Ensure match funding is in place.
To ensure that their project goals and delivery
plan are fully formed and that as much match
funding as possible is at least applied for.
Please add any further comments here:
Good local team - well done
Grateful and thankful for all your support.
I find the Leader staff in Moray a fantastic
support for the delivery of Leader and as a
support to our project
Hope to start a new project soon
The Moray LEADER team are excellent!
I think there should be some sort of threshold
below which smaller projects, often run by
volunteers do not have to meet such stringent
condition.
35