300k grant funding still available for local businesses and communities
Press Release
21st January 2014
A new support fund aimed at local businesses and community projects is being launched early next month by the Northern Devon Fisheries Local Action Group (FLAG).
The ‘Seafood and Festivals support fund’ aims to support new activity that promotes, uses and celebrates our local catch, marine environment or fishing culture or helps to strengthen the local market and supply chain for local fish. The fund is part of £300,000 of grant still available for local business or community projects – it will be launched at two drop-in events in Ilfracombe and Appledore.
The events will be held between 4:00 – 8:00pm, with the first at Appledore’s Blue Lights Hall on Thursday 6thFebruary, and the second on Tuesday 25thFebruary at St. Philip and St. James Community Centre in Ilfracombe.
FLAG is inviting local people to catch up with the community and business projects supported by the programme to date, discover fishy facts, fishing heritage and enjoy some free local seafood tasters.
The FLAG project team will also be on hand to provide practical advice on how to apply to for funding for your business or community idea.
Jenny Carey-Wood, FLAG programme manager at North Devon+, said: “We have a fantastic range of projects underway ranging from the practical to the intellectual.
“Of the 21 projects funded, several celebrate our fishing heritage and culture such as reviving knitting patterns for fishermen’s ‘gansies’, exploring the Victorian collectors and their curiosity boxes in Ilfracombe or learning new seafood recipes for our local catch. Practical projects are developing local angling opportunities, teaching schoolchildren about the local catch, improving safety and equipment on fishing boats and diversifying local fish processing.
“With around £300,000 of grant funding still available from the main programme and a final bid deadline of early June 2014, we’re asking people to come along and find out more.”
Launched in March 2012 and supported by North Devon+, the Northern Devon FLAG aims to help the area’s fishing communities build a more sustainable future through support, promotion and grants.
Laura Holt, Marketing Manager at North Devon+ said: “FLAG is a great example of how, as the economic regeneration company for Northern Devon, we are attracting European funding into the area to support local businesses and communities. FLAG is just one way in which we work closely with communities to help create a more productive economy.”
More information about the FLAG can also be found at www.ndflag.co.uk
Ends.
Notes to Editors
For more information regarding this press release contact: Emma Parker Reynolds at Coast on 07944 360631 or the Coast main office on 01752 847135.
Notes to Editors:
Photo opportunity
Reporters and photographers are invited to attend either of the events, where there will be opportunities to take photographs of activity and to speak with the project team. Please contact us if you would like to attend.
Appledore event
Date: Thursday 6th February
Time: 4:00 – 8:00pm
Venue: Blue Lights Hall, Appledore.
Ilfracombe event
Date: Tuesday 25th February
Time: 4:00 – 8:00pm
Venue: St. Philip and St. James Community Centre, Ilfracombe.
Information about FLAGs
Axis 4 of the European Fisheries Fund (EFF) supports the sustainable development of fisheries areas through FLAGs – Fisheries Local Action Groups. It aims to help develop smaller communities where fishing is in decline and is delivered through local groups who represent the area and access funding for projects. Funding is for the fisheries sector, businesses using fish, eco-tourism and the wider fishing communities.
Northern Devon is one of only six coastal communities in England to have been designated as a FLAG. The FLAGs were designated as part of an open competition which included a two-stage application process. The funding worth £7.3 million in total was awarded to the Groups by a panel of experts, based on the strength of their local development strategies.
Northern Devon Fisheries Local Action Group
The grants in the FLAG programme are from the European Fisheries Fund and Defra and are aimed at supporting the sustainable development of the fisheries communities and fish related businesses.
As well as grants for businesses directly involved in fishing, fish processing or selling seafood, the FLAG programme can support fish related tourism activities, projects linked to our fishing heritage and culture, increasing the skills and understanding of everyone about local fish and improvements to the marine environment that will benefit fish.
With a core purpose of helping the area’s fishing communities to build a more sustainable future for them, the programme covers the whole of Torridge and North Devon with a particular focus on the four commercial landing ports and historic fishing communities of Appledore, Ilfracombe, Bideford and Clovelly. Contact the team on flag@northdevonplus.co.uk or see www.ndflag.co.uk
General information about the Marine Management Organisation and European Fisheries Fund
Around £38 million investment has been made available through the European Fisheries Fund (EFF) to help the English fishing fleet become more sustainable and profitable. The Marine Management Organisation (MMO) effectively delivers this funding to enable the sustainable development of English fishing communities. More information about the MMO, and the EFF, is available from its website – www.marinemanagement.org.uk
About North Devon+
North Devon+ is the chief economic delivery agency for North Devon and Torridge. We aim to deliver positive change, creating a more productive economy and more prosperous communities. Our role is to ensure our area thrives as a place in which to live, learn, work and visit. Our primary focus is on regeneration, tourism and business development. We work with Torridge District Council, North Devon Council, Devon County Council and the private sector to deliver projects and initiatives that encourage and support business growth, improve quality of life, and address social and economic inequalities. North Devon+ is a member of the National Enterprise Network. To find out more visit www.northdevonplus.co.uk
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