RURAL areas of Tynedale are set for a share of a £4m European Union nest egg to help create jobs and boost the economy.

The cash is available to support micro and small businesses and farm diversification; boost rural tourism; increase farm productivity; increase forestry productivity; provide rural services and provide cultural and heritage activities.

It‘s all part of the latest round of the Northumberland LEADER Programme, which is looking to recruit new members to its Local Action Groups (LAGs).

These groups are made up of people from the local community, along with representatives of the public and private sector.

They will decide which projects they will fund in their area. This depends on their priorities, but all projects must support one or more of the six LEADER priorities.

A grant funding pot of £4m will be opened for applications in the coming months and the programme will remain open until 2019 for eligible rural businesses.

LEADER is a community- led approach to providing European funding to small businesses, farmers, foresters and communities, for projects that create jobs and grow the rural economy.

Some 70 per cent of the cash will be used to support projects designed to directly support creation of jobs and growth and the remaining 30 per cent to indirectly support jobs and growth.

The award-winning village shop project in Humshaugh is one example of LEADER funding being put to good use.

The Humshaugh community came together to protect their threatened shop from closure. Facing a real prospect of losing the facility, local people formed a committee and purchased the lease and took on the day-to-day management of the shop, supported with a grant of £22,500.

Further afield, over £14,000 funding allowed a young businesswoman to set up her own business and play her part in supporting her local community after establishing Lindisfarne Charcoal.

The funding was used to buy specialist tools, such as charcoal production kilns and chain-saws, helping the business produce traditionally-made charcoal from locally-sourced timber.

LEADER programme officer Ivan Hewitt explained: “With the beginning of the new programme, we are looking to widen and develop the membership of our Local Action Groups.

“We want to hear from local businesses, community organisations, parish and town councils, development trusts, public sector agencies and local residents.

“By developing the LAGs in this way we intend to ensure there is a broad range of interests local to Northumberland represented.”

Cabinet member for economic growth at Northumberland County Council, Coun. Allan Hepple, said: “As the LEADER programme continues to grow, develop and deliver regeneration projects and community development initiatives, it will remain open and accessible to everyone.

“Growing the economy is this council’s number one corporate priority and this is another source of funding which will provide a great boost to our rural communities.

“I’d urge anyone with ideas for developing their business, boosting rural tourism, increasing the productivity of farms and forests, or improving rural services to get in touch.”

Anyone interested in joining either of the Northumberland LEADER Local Action Groups should email their name, organisation (if appropriate), address including postcode, contact number and email address to Northumberland Coast & Lowlands – ivan.hewitt@ northumberland.gov.uk or Tel. (01670) 623927, or Northumberland Uplands – gillian. cowell@ northumberland.gov.uk or Tel. (01670) 623885.

Applications to join the Northumberland LEADER LAGs need to be received by Friday, July 31.