Rural Funding and Grants
The RDPE Leader Programme
The Leader Programme is part of the Rural Development
Programme for England (RDPE) funded by Defra (Department for
the Environment and Rural Affairs) and the European Union.
Grants of up to £50,000 towards capital or revenue costs are
available to rural and land based businesses and social and
community groups for projects which:
- improve the competitiveness and sustainability of Kent's
land-based sectors through diversification, innovation, and adding
value to products
- foster sustainable rural tourism and related businesses
- assisting rural communities and businesses in managing change
and combating rural deprivation
There are two eligible rural areas in Kent:
- Kent Downs and Marshes covering rural parts of Medway, Swale,
Maidstone, Ashford, Canterbury, Shepway and Dover, contact:
Huw Jarvis Kent, (01622) 696940 huw.jarvis@kent.gov.uk
- West Kent covering rural parts of Sevenoaks, Tonbridge and
Malling and Tunbridge Wells, contact: Caroline Lingham,
(01732) 227000, westkentleader@sevenoaks.gov.uk
Read more about the Kent Downs and Marshes
Area, see if you live in an area covered by
the Leader Programme and find out more
about the RDPE
Programme.
Produced in Kent
Produced in Kent promotes the best of food and drink products
and services from the county and assists small and medium sized
enterprises and small producers in the rural and land-based
sectors. It is a not for profit membership organisation.
Read more about Produced in Kent.
Kent Downs Rural Advice Service Farm Diversification
Toolkit
The Kent Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty Team, with
support from Kent County Council, have published a new reference
guide to assist farm diversification projects.
The web-based toolkit, which has been endorsed by the NFU and the
CLA, provides a range of help and advice.
Read the Farm
Diversification Toolkit.
Kent Action for Rural Retailers
Kent Action for Rural Retailers provides advice for
retaining and improving village shops and post offices - along
with networking events for village shop owners/sub-postmasters
to promote best practice and share new ideas.
Kent Action for Rural Retailersis is a partnership of
village shop owners, Action with Communities in Rural Kent, Kent
County Council, Business Support Kent and Produced in Kent.
Read more about Kent
Action for Rural Retailers.