Dumfries & Galloway Update

Ros McNay, Leader + Programme Manager for Dumfries & Galloway, reports that it is still to early to say when the new Leader start date will be, but the best estimate is Spring 2008, though it could be as late as June or July 2008 if there is any delay either at EU or Scottish level. Ros anticipates that the Dumfries & Galloway Leader team will start to work up project ideas from January and they are currently planning two workshops to present the new programme, themes and target groups for the end of February. One will be in the Moffat area and one in the Newton Stewart area.

Describing how the final projects were selected for special recognition for the recent Dumfries & Galloway Leader Awards Ros said “The twenty short-listed projects were split into five categories and judged by an independent panel drawn from national organisations across Scotland representing Visitscotland, National Theatre of Scotland, Scottish Enterprise, University of Highlands and Islands and the Scottish Wildlife Trust. The Awards bring together communities, local agencies and national organisations in a celebration of rural activity. It has been a unique opportunity to bring together partners from Ireland, Sweden, Finland and Belgium as well as to promote our work nationally. It was vitally important that there should be independent judges, as we felt that this would help raise the profile of the projects and rural development of the region. We are pleased to have received such positive feedback from the Rural Awards and hope that this second guide will become a useful reference and promotional tool for the region”. John Gold and Annette Paterson from the Communities on the Edge project (featured in the Best Practice Guide) and Flora McDowall were lucky enough to attend what was a great celebration!