European Structural Funding
Community projects around Scotland are reaping the benefits of European cash.
Around £680 million in European Structural Funds has been made available under the 2007-13 programmes to help increase sustainable economic growth and regenerate communities across the country.
Nearly 300 projects in Scotland have so far benefited from the funding, which has been used in areas such as provision of training, employment opportunities and supporting research and innovation.
Among those projects which have benefited from European investment is a remote North West beauty spot in Sutherland, a training course for migrant workers in the Highlands and Islands, and a project to support Scotland’s renewable energy efforts.
Culag Community Woodland Trust (CCWT) has secured more than £200,000 in funding from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), matched by £350,000 from partners, to improve access to the 1200-hectare Little Assynt Estate near Lochinver, Sutherland.
The project, which will run until December 2010, will create nearly four and a half kilometres of new trails through the Little Assynt woods.
Commenting on the project, Hilary MacDonald, Project Officer at Culag Community Woodland Trust, said: "CCWT was set up to manage the woodlands for the benefit of all local people. We’ve worked hard to deliver a series of successful projects to date, and the funding we’ve received from ERDF will be of invaluable assistance to us over the next two years in supporting economic growth and employment."
Meanwhile, Forestry Commission Scotland has secured more than £309,000 in funding from ERDF to roll out a three-year biomass development programme aimed at empowering local rural enterprises and helping them cope with the demands of the industry.
Rebecca Carr, renewables and sustainable development advisor to Forestry Commission Scotland, said: "The biomass industry is developing at such a pace that our rural businesses require active support to ensure they are ready and able to make the most of the opportunities in the modern market.
"Current levels of demand means that intensive support is required in the short term to ensure the long term future of the industry. Local, small-medium scale biomass markets can deliver many benefits for the rural sector in terms of jobs and economic development and this ERDF funding goes a long way to helping."
Overall wood fuel use has increased by around six per cent but in the small-medium sector it has nearly doubled, with projected demand expected to treble by 2010 thanks to a number of large-scale industrial projects. Further information about wood fuel is available from www.usewoodfuel.co.uk
North Highland College is using European support to roll out its English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) course which provides training and employment opportunities to 250 migrant workers living in the Highlands and Islands.
For the 2007-13 programme period, there are four distinct Programmes - two in the Highlands and Islands (European Social Fund and European Regional Development Fund) and two in the Lowlands & Uplands (also ESF and ERDF).
For further details on how the European Regional Development Fund could benefit businesses and communities in your local area, visit www.hipp.org.uk for the Highlands and Islands or www.esep.co.uk for Lowlands and Uplands Scotland.
Audio Features
Listen again to our on air features for this Life Matters article. Click on the 'play' link next to one of the titles to play that item.
PLAY > Life matter wc 8 Dec - Ver 1.mp3
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Comments
How to introduce my project?Rehabilisation and building latrine in primary school in Cameroon.
Precisely,the objectives are to support me improving latrine conditions of child in one off non develop country in this planete by helping social and economic development of the children as far as health, education and protection of natura are concerned.
VALERIE MBANDA
There have been many projects completed with other funding, such as Millennium Projects which have not been maintained.What news of, the often mentioned, Glen Afton Path in East Ayrshire?
Geoff Crolley
tried to get more information on how to get help after listening to your programme its a good article but once again the funding will go to the selected few I left a message with one of the articles co authors to try and get information about erdf funding but no one has responded. I can but hopealex hardie