Thumbs up for Sustainable Development Fund
An independent review of seven years of operation of the Sustainable Development Fund (SDF) in England's National Parks has revealed just how successful it has been.
The SDF is a grant scheme that encourages individuals and communities to find sustainable ways of living and working, whilst enhancing and conserving the local culture, wildlife and landscape of Exmoor and other National Parks within England.
The review, conducted by Land Use Consultants for the English National Park Authorities found that the SDF:
·Draws down high levels of other funding. The £9.9 million invested in the SDF has attracted £42.5 million in funding from other sources - this compares well with other grant schemes in the area.
·Creates jobs with over 16% of funded projects creating jobs, and over half of those projects received less that £1,000 per job created. Further jobs have been safeguarded and sustained through SDF investment.
·Reaches where other schemes do not. The SDF gives priority to innovative ideas, supporting initiatives that would otherwise fall between the gaps of other funding schemes. The fund has also taken calculated risks and often provides the first offer of funding from which other support can be generated.
·Meets needs identified by local communities and businesses providing a bottom up approach to sustainable development.
·Provides practical examples of sustainable development in action
Within Exmoor National Park 122 projects have been supported between 2002 and March 2009, with further projects supported since then. The fund has invested nearly £1.5m in the rural economy of Exmoor and attracted over £4.5m through additional matched funding, which has helped to sustain the communities of the moor. On Exmoor 37% of projects have helped create employment with more than 40 full time equivalent posts being created and numerous others being sustained or safeguarded. Over 60% of the Exmoor projects have developed new sustainability models that can be applied elsewhere in rural areas.
Commenting on the review John Dyke, Chairman of Exmoor National Park Authority said: “The Exmoor Sustainable Development Fund has helped Exmoor National Park to lead the way, alongside other National Parks, in finding and supporting innovative solutions to sustainability within a nationally significant rural area.
“We have seen many projects developed on Exmoor which have benefited our communities and natural environment alike and acted as green prints for other rural areas.”
The evaluation was published at a meeting of the All Parks Parliamentary Group at the House of Commons earlier this month. Narendra Bajaria CBE, English National Parks Authority Chair, said: "The Fund is contributing to the transformation to a low carbon society and sustainable living in our National Parks. National Park Authorities look forward to working individually and collectively to take up the challenges and opportunities identified in the report with the aim of making the Sustainable Development Fund even more successful in future."
Full details of the Exmoor Sustainable Development fund, along with copiers of the full report and a short 4 page summary of the evaluation can be found at www.exmoor-nationalpark.gov.uk/sustainable-development-fund.htm.
Funding is currently available for businesses, community groups and individuals with innovative ideas that will benefit the National Park and its environment, communities and economy. Those interested should contact Dan James, Sustainable Economy Officer on 01398 32234 or email sdf@exmoor-nationalpark.gov.uk for further information.