LEADER Area Map and Postcode Search

LEADER funding is available to rural businesses across the majority of the Cotswolds AONB.

Cotswold LEADER Eligibility OS Map >

The Cotswolds AONB is covered by a number of LEADER Programmes, each programme may vary in terms of amount of funding available and requirements that need to be met so please check with the LEADER Programme that covers the location of your project.   If you are not sure which area your project falls under you can check your postcode or even search using an interactive MAGIC Map using the links further down this page, alternatively give your nearest LEADER Programme a call and they will be able to confirm for you.

Note that only the location of your project must fall inside the eligible area; this does not need to be the same address as your organisation’s registered office.

Postcode Search

To check which LEADER Programme the postcode for your project activity falls under simply click on the link below to download the postcode checking spreadsheet, type your postcode in the field and then press the enter key on your keyboard to enter.

> Download the Postcode Search 

The page will then confirm (as shown below) the leader local action group that covers your postcode.

GPS and Map Based Search

If the site where your project activity will be undertaken does not have a specific postcode, for example if it will be located within a field or forest, you can also use the Magic mapping utility to check if your project falls within a LEADER-eligible area. Magic is a complex and incredibly comprehensive system, but to use it for LEADER purposes simply follow these steps:

1. Go to www.magic.gov.uk, and click the blue ‘Get Started’ button.

 2. Once the map has loaded, notice the series of drop-down menus on the left-hand side. These contain dozens of different types of information that can be displayed on the map simply by checking the relevant box.

In order to display the LEADER boundaries, first click on the plus-sign to expand the menu for ‘Administrative Geographies’, followed by ‘Other Administrative Boundaries’, then check the box for ‘Rural Development Fund eligibility for LEADER groups (England)’. The LEADER boundaries should then appear in blue.

3. You can then zoom in to view the Cotswolds area in great detail, or search for a location or postcode using the search facility at the top-left of the window. For the screenshot below, we searched for our own offices in Northleach. The specific area you searched for will appear in light blue, as shown below.   You can then click on the (i) button at the top of the screen which will then allow you to confirm by clicking your mouse on the map exactly where your project activity will be.

4. This will then result in a popup window appearing confirming whether your project activity falls within the Cotswolds LEADER area.

Where the popup shows LEADER Name "Cotswolds" then this confirms that the point clicked on the map falls within the designated Cotswolds LEADER programme area.

If you have any trouble using Magic or assessing whether or not your project falls into an eligible area, please do not hesitate contact our Programme team.

For more information go direct to the Rural Development European Commission website

This project is part financed by the  European Agricultural Fund for European Development 2014-20: Europe investing in rural areas