Rural businesses in southern Oxfordshire are being encouraged to apply for grants from a £250,000 pot.

The Southern Oxfordshire Leader Programme has funding available to support a wide range of projects for farmers, Tourism and community-based businesses.

In 2009, the Southern Oxfordshire Leader programme, a joint initiative involving South Oxfordshire and Vale of White Horse district councils, was awarded £1.89m of European funding to support rural projects, including farms, up to 2013.

So far, 44 businesses have successfully applied for a grant, and funding is still available.

Projects which have benefited include Brightwell-cum-Sotwell’s Sherwood Farm, which applied for £40,000 funding to help pay for a slurry system.

Angus Dart, of Sherwood Farm, said: “The Leader funding was the key element in enabling us to complete our project.”

Tourism in the two districts has also received a boost, with projects such as the refurbishment of Folly Tower, Faringdon, supported by a grant of £24,000.

For more information on the Leader Programme and information on how to apply for funding, call Kate Forrest on 01491 823176 or email info@