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Defra Grant Helps Secure Future Of Century-old Society
13/02/06

The long-term sustainability of a Northumberland agricultural society, which is more than 115 years old, has been secured with the help of Defra's Rural Enterprise Scheme, delivered by the Rural Development Service (RDS).

The Glendale Show

The Glendale Agricultural Society, based in Wooler, has been awarded a grant of £85,000 over three years, which has delighted the hundreds of members and volunteers who together organise The Glendale Show, the largest annual event held in North Northumberland.

The grant will be used to develop and maintain the society for future generations and specifically to ensure the long-term sustainability of the show and develop a Glendale 'Children's Education in the Countryside' Day.

Scott Donaldson, Chairman of the not-for-profit society, said:

"This is a grant source that we hope that many, many people and businesses will benefit from. It is not just for one person, it is for the community of the Glendale District which encompasses an area from the Tweed in the North to Glanton in the South, with Wooler as its central point. Already we are in the process of organising initiatives that will be of interest to all ages and all backgrounds, such as the Children's Countryside Education Day and the Family Stock Judging event.

"I'd like to thank our secretary of six years Sarah Nelson for putting together the successful application."

Adrian Vass, an adviser with the Rural Development Service in the North East, said:

"To secure this grant the society put a huge amount of work and research into their application. They did not just focus on the show that lasts one day of the year; their proposal encompassed a number of different events and a wide range of activities which will attract new audiences. As part of the application the society looked at different methods of raising the profile of both the Glendale area and the rural businesses within it."

The society employs two part time members of staff and aims to:

• Raise the profile of Glendale to put it on the tourist map
• Encourage children to find out about how farming and the countryside work
• Encourage and promote healthy eating and a healthy lifestyle at all of their events
• Inform the general public that farming, the countryside and the rural economy are changing and how these are linked to one another.

To find out more about The Glendale Agricultural Society and events being organised by the society visit the website www.glendaleshow.com or contact the secretary on 01668 283 868 or e-mail info@glendaleshow.com

Social and economic funding under the next rural development programme (2007 to 2013) in England will be simplified and better targeted to the needs of rural people and businesses. To achieve this the Rural Enterprise Scheme will not be rolled forward into the next rural development programme.

Friday, 30 June 2006 will be the last date on which new applications may be accepted under this scheme, and the Processing and Marketing Grant, the Vocational Training Scheme and the Energy Crops (SRC) Producer Group Scheme.

Mr Vass added: "Customers who are currently in the process of developing a proposal for a business or community project with a view to seeking a grant from one of these schemes are strongly recommended to discuss their proposal with a representative from their local RDS office."

This deadline does not apply to Objective 1 and LEADER+ funding; nor does it relate to Environmental Stewardship; the Energy Crops Scheme Establishment Grants, the Hill Farm Allowance, or the English Woodland Grant Scheme.

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