Rural economy

LEADER scheme

South Oxfordshire District Council and the Vale of the White Horse District Council have obtained £1.89 million of funding from the Rural Development Programme for England (RDPE) though a scheme called LEADER. This funding will provide support to a wide range of capital projects and training for farmers, growers, foresters, food businesses and rural communities. Contact the LEADER project manager on 01491 823176

For more information please visit the Southern Oxfordshire Leader website www.southernoxfordshireleader.org.uk

Oxfordshire Rural Community Council (ORCC)

ORCC aims to improve the quality of life for those who live or work in rural Oxfordshire.

Specific issues of concern to ORCC are:
• The shortage of affordable housing in most villages.
• The inadequacy of public and community transport throughout much of rural Oxfordshire.
• Poor access to some essential services and facilities, e.g shops.
• The importance of providing village halls or other places for community groups to meet.
• The decline of small towns as local service centres for surrounding rural communities.
• The need to strengthen support for the voluntary and community organisations (and their volunteers) on which rural services so often depend.
• Hidden disadvantage and social exclusion in rural communities.
• Involving the community in planning for the future through parish plans

To contact ORCC visit their website or call 01865 883488

Support for village shops

We support a Village Shop Development Worker (VSDW) as we recognise that village shops remain a lifeline to many people living in rural South Oxfordshire as well as being a social meeting place for village communities. The VSDW visits all village shops within Oxfordshire and provides knowledge and guidance, and assists with funding applications for grants. For more information about the work that the village shop development worker does visit the ORCC website or call 01865 883488

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