SMALL rural firms with good ideas to help the communities and landscapes in the North Pennines are being offered grants to turn their visions into reality.
The Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) Partnership has opened the second round of Sustainable Development Fund with around £1,000 to give to groups including businesses, charities and community bodies.
The previous round awarded funding to 170 projects and successful ideas should be based within or benefit the North Pennines AONB. They should also aim to support environmental, social and economic prosperity in the area.
The smaller grants range from £100 to £1,000 and £1,000-plus funding is available from the main Sustainable Development Fund, which comes from the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra).
AONB partnership project development officer, Simon Wilson, said: “It is great that we are able to continue offering this funding, building on our earlier targeting of money and advice to projects which will help to keep the North Pennines AONB so special.”
The deadline for making an ‘expression of interest’ for the funding is July 8. These applications will be assessed by a panel from the partnership and decision will be made before the start of the financial year.
Meanwhile, people in rural areas of north Northumberland are also being offered help to turn their enterprising ideas into businesses at a serious of workshops being staged next month.
Northern Reaction is organising the sessions in Berwick for people who are 16-plus, unemployed or looking for a change of direction.
The two-day workshops will help people recognise themselves as enterprising, explore their strengths and weaknesses, develop problem solving techniques and offer advice on their next steps.
Social enterprise Northern Reaction worked mainly in west Northumberland until recently, when it moved into the north of the county.
It has taken on three extra team members for its work in the Berwick area, who are supported by a local panel of volunteers. The panel is made up of representatives from local businesses, the community and local agencies.
Community based enterprise facilitator Neil Osborne supports clients who are thinking about setting up their own business and those who are already in business who may be experiencing difficulties.
The workshops take place at the Beehive Youth Project, Berwick upon Tweed on Monday July 11 and July 18. People who want to join must register and must be able to attend all the sessions.
For further information and to register, contact Gemma Douglas on 01668 282412 or email gemma@wooler.org.uk