Local Action Groups

The Leader approach is a delivery mechanism under the Rural Development Programme for England (RDPE). It is a method of using local knowledge to promote an integrated “bottom up”, community-led delivery of RDPE funding. In England it is being implemented by Local Action Groups and targeted on rural areas with particular needs or priorities, as identified by the Regional Development Agencies (RDAs) and regional implimentation plans (RIP).

A Local Action Group (LAG) is made up of interested volunteers from the public, private and voluntary sector. Each LAG develops a Local Development Strategy and funds projects in its locality to deliver this Strategy. 

Cooperation is a key part of the Leader approach. LAGs are encouraged to work jointly with another LAG or similar group in another region, Member State or third country. Cooperation is expected to add value to the Leader approach, enabling LAGs to obtain access to information and new ideas, stimulate and support innovation and improve skills and delivery.   Cooperation projects will help ensure that newly formed LAGs can benefit from the learning and experience of those already well established. We have developed a form to help you find a suitable cooperation partner. The UK NRN website contains further information on transnational cooperation opportunities, the Leader Approach and archive material on the previous Leader + programme. You can also share information and discuss issues relating to the Leader Approach on our Leader Approach forum.

The National Leader map shows the locality of all the LAGs in England for further information use the directory below. Click on a LAG's name to access contact details for the LAG, together with a brief summary about it, where it is located and the projects it supports. The directory is still under development and more information will be added as it becomes available. If you see any information in our directory that needs updating then please contact us.