Partnerships of local organisations and people (local action groups) received funding for two purposes:
- Identify development needs within their rural communities
- Develop and test small-scale, innovative, sustainable pilot projects.
There were six local action groups (LAGs) in the South West:
- Blackdown Hills Rural Partnership
- Dorset Chalk and Cheese
- North West Devon
- Somerset Levels and Moors
- Sustain the Plain
- Teignbridge Rural Regeneration Partnerships
The South West received £8 million from the European Agricultural Guidance and Guarantee Fund. Defra provided match funding totalling £4 million, as well as contributions from local authorities, the Regional Development Agency and the private sector.
The SW LEADER+ programme has supported over 270 projects.
