Young People’s Participation In Funding Decisions

01 November 2021 at 13:50:11

The Outer Hebrides, Orkney and Shetland LEADER Local Action Groups (LAGs) have been awarded funding through the Scottish Governments 'Rural Communities Testing Change' fund to jointly explore the development of Youth Local Action Groups and their potential as a sustainable model that can be replicated in other Scottish LAG areas. 

The project aims to test, explore, and identify the most appropriate, inclusive, and transparent methods of developing and operating a Youth Local Action Group that would be available to utilise a range of funding options including government and non-government funding opportunities.

To deliver this Project the LAGs, for which the Outer Hebrides is the primary contact, seek to make a number of temporary appointments including a suitably experienced person to the Consultant Youth Local Action Group Co-ordinator post.  They will be responsible for the overall delivery of the Project and the management of graduate placement positions who will be located, ideally, within the participating Island regions. 

Matt Bruce, Chairman of the Outer Hebrides LAG, said: "Having fully spent our LEADER funding, we are lucky to have secured funding to help prioritise the next phases of investment. This funding is to prioritise projects across the islands which will help young people aged 16 to 40."

Outer Hebrides LEADER Co-ordinator, Kathlene Morrison, said "This project will provide graduates with first-hand experience whilst also giving the islands young people an opportunity to have a say in project decisions and community-led local development."

The Graduate Placement posts will support the work of the Consultant Co-ordinator and are fantastic opportunities for a recently qualified person(s), or similar, looking to gain relevant and significant working experience.  There are three Placement positions available, ideally, one to be located in each participating regions of Orkney, Outer Hebrides and Shetland, however this can be negotiated depending on knowledge of the local area.

Positions are on self-employed, consultancy basis and are fixed term until March 2022 and further information can be obtained either on the Public Contracts Website or by contacting the Outer Hebrides LAG at outerhebridesleader@cne-siar.gov.uk

The consultant tender closes on the 8th November 2021 whilst the Graduate position closes on the 12th November 2021.

The Outer Hebrides LEADER 2014-2020 Programme was awarded £3.18m of European LEADER funding to support community-led local development (CLLD). Though now closed, the current LEADER Programme supported nearly 50 projects across the islands.  These include small rural businesses, community enterprises and voluntary sector organisations. Consecutive EU LEADER Programmes have, for 30 years, been active in supporting opportunities in local communities across the Outer Hebrides with an investment of over £11.6m and levering-in an additional £22.8m of other funding.