Grants & Funding

For the first time, Catchment Sensitive Farming Capital Grants will be available to farmers within the Leam Catchment. The grants are aimed at the installation of facilities that help to reduce diffuse water pollution and benefit our farmers by improving their farms. Many of these improvements often result in cost savings for the farm business as well.

There are 50 items available through the grant including:

• Roofing of manure storage and livestock gathering areas
• Watercourse fencing
• Livestock drinking trough with associated pipework
• Pasture pumps and associated pipework
• Livestock and machinery tracks and associated livestock fencing
• Cross drains in or on farm tracks
• Yard works (concrete yard renewal, guttering, drains) for clean and dirty water separation
• Lined Biobeds for pesticide washings
• Roofs for slurry and silage stores
• Pesticide loading and wash down areas including roofing
• Rainwater storage tanks
• Hardstanding for livestock feeder and /or drinking trough

The Grant application window is 1st March 2012 - 30th April 2012

To find out more about the grant scheme, how to apply, and how to stand the best chance of receiving a grant then come along to one of the CSF Capital Grant talks being held on the following dates:

Date: Tuesday 7th February 2012 (evening)
Time: 7.30pm - 9.00pm
Address: Blue Lias Inn, Stockton road Southam, CV47 8LD

Date: Wednesday 15th February 2012 (evening)
Time: 7.30pm-9.00pm (Refreshments included)
Address: Council Chamber, Arthur Rank Centre, Stoneleigh Park, Warwickshire CV8 2LG

These events will attract NRoSO and BASIS CPD.
These events are being jointly hosted by the Warwickshire Rural Hub and the Upper Avon & Leam Partnership.

To book your FREE place please see contact details below.

Contact: Melissa Hoskings
Contact number: 07557 338642
Email: melissa@severnriverstrust.com

A new £20 million fund to help farming, forestry and horticultural businesses to become more efficient at using resources has been launched. The scheme aims to help businesses to become more competitive and more profitable, whilst reducing the impact of farming on the environment.
Farmers, foresters, woodland owners, agricultural contractors and horticulturalists can apply for grants of up to £25,000 to invest in green projects, new machinery and improvements to animal health and welfare so their businesses can grow in an environmentally friendly way.
The Farming and Forestry Improvement Scheme will fund projects that:
• save energy and reduce carbon emissions;
• reduce dependence on artificial fertilizers through better use of manures;
• improve soil quality;
• improve animal health and welfare;
• save and recycle water; and
• promote woodland management by processing timber more efficiently.

For more information go to http://rdpenetwork.defra.gov.uk/funding-sources/farm-and-forestry-improvement-scheme

The application form will be available on the site from the 16th November 2011. The 1st round of the scheme is open from Wednesday 16 November 2011 until 17 January 2012
If you have further questions and your business is based in Herefordshire, Shropshire, Staffordshire, Worcestershire and Warwickshire please contact the West Midlands RDPE delivery Team.
RDPE Delivery Team West Midlands
Defra, Government Buildings, Whittington Road, Worcester, WR5 2LQ

Contact number: Office Direct Line - 01905 768854
Email: rdpedeliverywestmidlands@DEFRA.GSI.GOV.UK
Website: www.rdpenetwork.defra.gov.uk/funding-sources/farm-and-forestry-improvement-scheme

Closing date of call Friday 9th March 2012

LEADER are pleased to announce a further call for new applications to the LEADER programme for the Linking Communities and Land-based indutries Project.

The aim of the Central Warwickshire Villages LEADER Programme is to create a strong sense of place within the rural areas of central Warwickshire. The programme aims to bring people together across the rural areas of Warwick District and Rugby Borough by creating sustainable and creative communities that create, celebrate and redefine their rural culture and heritage.
The programme aims to deliver a variety of outputs detailed in the Local Development Strategy (LDS). The funding will be delivered through a series of calls for applications. More information on the programme and the themes can be found in the LDS which is
downloadable from the LEADER website www.warwickshireleader.net

Linking Communities to Land-based Industries:
This is an open call for constituted organisations, groups or small, established businesses to deliver community-based projects that link communities with farms and other land-based activities around them. The project aims to deliver the objectives within ‘LDS Theme 3 - Linking Communities to Land-based Rural Industries’. Applicants are encouraged to develop their own ideas that address this theme.

How much funding is available?
This current call is for applications for funding between £5,000 - £15,000. Applicants can apply for the full cost of their projects or part of the costs but the outputs that they will be expected to deliver will be proportional to the funding amount secured.

For full details and further information about this programme please visit their website www.warwickshireleader.net or to discuss your idea in more detail informally please contact the Programme Team: Tel: 02476 217741 email: leader@gardenorganic.org.uk

Closing date of call Friday 9th March 2012

LEADER are pleased to announce a further call for new applications to the LEADER programme for the Community Arts and Events Project.

The aim of the Central Warwickshire Villages LEADER Programme is to create a strong sense of place within the rural areas of central Warwickshire. The programme aims to bring people together across the rural areas of Warwick District and Rugby Borough by creating sustainable and creative communities that create, celebrate and redefine their rural culture and heritage.
The programme aims to deliver a variety of outputs detailed in the Local Development Strategy (LDS). The funding will be delivered through a series of calls for applications. More information on the programme and the themes can be found in the LDS which is
downloadable from the LEADER website www.warwickshireleader.net

Community Arts and Events - what are we looking for?
This is an open call for organisations or constituted groups to deliver a range of arts projects and events within the villages and rural communities of Central Warwickshire as a means of enhancing a sense of place, enabling communities to develop new ways of expressing their identity, coming together and giving them a voice. The LEADER project aims to deliver the objectives within Theme 2 - “Community Arts Projects and Events”.

How much funding is available?
This current call for applications is for applications between £5,000 - £15,000. Applicants can apply for the full cost of their project or part of the costs but the outputs that they will be expected to deliver will be proportional to the funding amount secured.

For full details and further information on the funding and how to apply please visit their website www.warwickshireleader.net or to discuss your idea in more detail informally please contact the programme team: Tel: 02476 217741 or email: leader@gardenorganic.org.uk

Grant Type
Woodland Assessment:2012 - 2013 - Open
Woodland Planning: 2012 - 2013 - Open
Woodland Improvement (Bio, Bird, Access, SSSi, NI197): 2012 - 2013 - Open
Woodland Management: 2012 - 2013 - Open
Woodland Regeneration: 2012 - 2013 - Open
Woodland Creation: 2012 - 2013 - Open

Woodfuel Woodland Improvement Grant
This grant supports the sustainable production of woodfuel and other timber products. Work needs to meet the UK Forest
Standard but the basis for support is economic rather than environmental or social.The grant offers 60% towards the
cost of work, and doesn’t take account of the timber income that results.

The following main operations are supported:- Roads, tracks and other infrastructure to assist the extraction of
timber from woodland.Support will be based on 3 quotes and grant paid on the production of receipted invoices.Woodland
inventory and costs associated with managing harvesting contracts. Support for this work is based on standard costs.
In order to be eligible for this grant, the woodland must have an approved management plan in place so we recommend
owners apply for Woodland Planning Grant if one isn’t in place already.

For further details regarding all Woodland Grants, please contact your Forestry Commission Woodland Officers:
Worcestershire & East Herefordshire: Wayne Barnes 01905 532213 wayne.barnes@forestry.gsi.gov.uk

South Shropshire and West Herefordshire: Nick Smith 01584 877544 nick.smith@forestry.gsi.gov.uk

Or visit the website www.forestry.gov.uk/ewgs

The Farming and Forestry Improvement Scheme will fund projects that:
• save energy and reduce carbon emissions;
• reduce dependence on artificial fertilizers through better use of manures;
• improve soil quality;
• improve animal health and welfare;
• save and recycle water; and
• promote woodland management by processing timber more efficiently.

Farmers, foresters, woodland owners, agricultural contractors and horticulturalists can apply for grants of up to £25,000 to invest in green projects, new machinery and improvements to animal health and welfare so their businesses can grow in an environmentally friendly way.

For more information go to the website
http://rdpenetwork.defra.gov.uk/funding-sources/farm-and-forestryimprovement-scheme
The application form is now available on the website. The 1st round of the scheme is open from Wednesday 16 November 2011 until 17 January 2012

If you have further questions and your business is based in Herefordshire, Shropshire, Staffordshire, Worcestershire and Warwickshire please contact the West Midlands RDPE delivery Team.

For all project enquiries - Email: Jo.Jury@defra.gsi.gov.uk
RDPE Partnerships and Programme Team Leader

The contact details for the RDPE team are:
DEFRA, Block A Spur 11, Government Buildings, Whittington Rd,
Worcester WR5 2LQ
Contact number: Office Direct Line - 01905 768854
Email: rdpedeliverywestmidlands@defra.gsi.gov.uk

The responsibility for the management of the RDPE Programme has now transferred from Advantage West Midlands to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA). New grants focusing on RDPE priorities of competitiveness, Rural Uplands, Rural Broadband, Tourism and skills will be publicised over the summer with 'Calls for Bids' launched in the autumn.

For all project enquiries Email: Jo.Jury@defra.gsi.gov.uk
RDPE Partnerships and Programme Team Leader

The contact details for the RDPE team are:
DEFRA, Block A Spur 11, Government Buildings, Whittington Rd, Worcester WR5 2LQ
Telephone: 01905 763355

The Government has announced that it is making available £95 million to be distributed by Banks to help small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) in England. The funding is expected to create at least 4,000 jobs and unlock around £500 million of new investment by small and medium-sized businesses.
The £95 million is part of the Government’s Regional Growth Fund, a £1.4 billion fund supporting projects that can create jobs.
RBS and NatWest banks will facilitate the distribution of £70 million with HSBC facilitating the distribution of £25 million. The banks will not profit financially from the administration of these schemes.

The new schemes will provide grants to support SMEs considering investing in new capital assets and creating new employment. SMEs can qualify for a grant to invest in capital assets, such as plant and machinery and create new jobs if they have been unable to obtain normal bank finance. Grants of up to £500,000 will be awarded alongside the award of a new bank loan on commercial terms. To qualify for the NatWest and RBS scheme, SMEs need a turnover of less than £25 million. To qualify for the HSBC scheme the SME will need a turnover of less than 50 million Euros.

More information about the funding can be found at http://www.bis.gov.uk and on the website of HSBC, NatWest and RBS.

This grant supports the sustainable production of woodfuel and other timber products. Work needs to meet the UK Forest Standard but the basis for support is economic rather than environmental or social.

For more detailed information on this grant, visit the Forestry Commission website www.forestry.gov.uk