The NE LEP area Community Led Local Development (CLLD) European Structural and Investment Funds application process for stage 1 applications for CLLD has now opened. Full details can be found on the gov.uk website.
CLLD is a specific tool which:
- focuses on specific sub-regional areas that cover a population of between 10,000 and 150,000 residents;
- is community-led, by local action groups (LAGs) composed of representatives of local public and private socio-economic interests, with at least 50% of the decision-makers not being representatives of public authorities;
- is carried out through integrated and multi-sectoral area-based local development strategies which:
- take into consideration local needs and potential; and
- include innovative features in the local context, networking, and where appropriate co-operation
CLLD is intended to:
- encourage local communities to develop integrated bottom-up approaches in circumstances where there is a need to respond to territorial and local challenges calling for structural change;
- build community capacity and stimulate innovation (including social innovation), entrepreneurship and capacity for change by encouraging the development and discovery of untapped potential from within communities and territories;
- promote community ownership by increasing participation within communities and build the sense of involvement and ownership that can increase the effectiveness of EU policies; and
- assist multi-level governance by providing a route for local communities to fully take part in shaping the implementation of EU objectives in all areas.
For more information on what Community Led Local Development is please take a look at introductory information on the VONNE website here and further guidance can be found on the gov.uk website here VONNE would encourage VCSE organisations interested in this opportunity to contact their relevant local authority contact - a list of contacts can be found here.