Rural Down Partnership

The Rural Down Partnership is the implementing body responsible for administering LEADER+ funds to the value of £1.45 Million in the rural parts of Ards, Banbridge and Down Council areas until December 2006. The Partnership, which successfully delivered the LEADER II Initiative in the area between 1994 and 1999, is incorporated as a Limited Company.

The Partnership's strategic aim for the LEADER+ Programme is:
"To improve the quality of life in rural areas primarily by supporting the enhancement of the rural community."

The objectives of the Partnership are to:

Provide support for the development of innovative, sustainable rural projects
Provide support for the expansion of existing rural businesses
Provide support for projects that enhance the prospects of rural dwellers accessing employment (this could be additional employment)
Create employment in rural areas
Stimulate income generation in the target groups

The Partnership aims to support a total of 88 projects throughout the duration of the LEADER+ Programme and has developed four themes under which funding for rural based projects may be sought. The four themes are:

Enhancing access to employment
Fostering new rural enterprises
Supporting the survival and enhancement of existing businesses (including farms)
Supporting rural tourism

Targeting the LEADER+ Programme
Funded by the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, the European Union, Ards Borough Council, Banbridge District Council and Down District Council, the Rural Down Partnership hopes to achieve its objectives by exploiting opportunities, stimulating innovative projects and targeting areas of need. The LEADER+ Programme is aimed at micro-businesses (employing ten persons or less) from the private sector. Projects should target priority groups (women, young people, farmers and farm families, long-term unemployed). The LEADER+ Programme being delivered by the Rural Down Partnership is aimed at the rural wards of Ards, Banbridge and Down Council areas as follows:

Ards
Ballygowan, Ballywalter, Carrowdore, Central, Donaghadee North, Donaghadee South, Killinchy, Kircubbin, Loughries, Millisle, Portaferry, Portavogie, West Winds

Banbridge
Bannside, Croob, Dromore North, Dromore South, Garran, Gilford, Katesbridge, Lawrencetown,
Loughbrickland, Quilly, Rathfriland

Down
Ardglass, Castlewellan, Crossgar, Derryboy, Donard, Drumaness, Dundrum, Dunmore, Killough, Killyleagh, Kilmore, Murlough, Saintfield, Seaforde, Shimna, Strangford, Tollymore

Businesses in the urban areas of Ballynahinch, Banbridge, Comber, Downpatrick, Newcastle and Newtownards are not eligible for LEADER+ funding. The Partnership will retain the flexibility to support projects located in more urban settings in cases where the projects will benefit rural areas and it makes sense that they should be located in a town.

Managing the LEADER+ Programme
The LEADER+ Programme is managed by the Rural Down Partnership Board or Local Action Group. It consists of 18 members made up of statutory and private/community representatives. Some of these members served on the LEADER II Partnership Board while others were recruited for their skills/expertise in their relevant fields. The members of the Rural Down Partnership Board or Local Action Group are as follows:

Board Member	Position	Representation
Councillor Margaret Craig	Director	Ards Borough Council
Councillor Angus Carson	Director	Ards Borough Council
Caroline Mahon	Secretary	Community Representative
Harry McGimpsey	Director	Business Representative
Councillor John Ingram	Director	Banbridge District Council
Councillor Seamus Doyle	Vice-Chairman	Banbridge District Council
David Kerr	Chairman	Community Representative
Vicki Herrity	Director	Business Representative
Councillor Peter Craig	Director	Down District Council
Councillor Patsy Toman	Director	Down District Council
Jan Irwin	Director	Business Representative
Sally Boal	Director	Statutory Representative
Maritta Culley	Director	Fishing Union Representative
David Stewart	Director	Ulster Farmers Union
Sean Fitzpatrick	Director	Northern Ireland Agricultural Producers' Association
Nicolas McCrickard	Director	Community Representative

The administrative and financial lead agency for the Partnership is Banbridge District Council, who employs a Programmes Manager and Monitoring Officer to administer the Programme via a Service Level Agreement. While the Programmes Manager carries out the administrative duties of the Partnership, it is the Board members who make the decisions and ultimately manage and deliver the Programme in the area. The Board members meet on a quarterly basis to assess project applications and monitor the progress of its LEADER+ Programme.