LEADER: Cooperation and Networking in Scotland Chris Parkin South Lanarkshire Rural Partnership LEADER Programme Manager September 2008

Local networking at South Lanarkshire LAG level Community Planning Partnerships Rural community conferences Collaboration between groups Resource efficiency

Building confidence and cohesion Rothesay expedition Team building Listen and learn Identify like minds Establish where common priorities exist Establish working relationships Action Two as a necessary evil

South of Scotland cluster Communities on the Edge Equestrian tourism development Rural land-based skills audit

Scottish level networking Coordinators meetings – information, consistency and showcasing Shetland - common response to SRDP consultation Uist – promoting the LEADER approach ‘sustainable development challenges us to work creatively with each other across sectors, responsibilities and policy areas…..LEADER provides us with an established mechanism to facilitate this’

Highs and lows

Value of LEADER collaboration and networking Shortening the learning curve Bouncing ideas Common interpretation of guidance…establishing consensus Consistent and appropriate outputs and outcomes Integrating, enabling and building links Louder voice…lobbying to secure commitment Integration with other funding strands…securing resources Approach based on Partnership…using LEADER as the joining tool

Thank you Chris Parkin, Programme Manager The Rural Development Trust 30 Hope Street,Lanark,Scotland, ML11 7NE