At last

What a long Summer this has been, a harvest we would all like to forget and personnel losses. My father inlaw Colin Mason having died in mid June. Colin bought the farm we now run here at Marsh, in 1964, he was also a founder member of The Vale Training Group, from which Vale Training Services developed. He played a vital part in all our lives and will be much missed.

However, at last I am please to inform you that on Friday, we signed the SEEDA-DEFRA-Lantra contract, to enable us to deliver training under the new Rural Development Plan for England (RDPE). The project will be known as Lantra LandSkills South East. This project will allow those working for 50% or more of their time in horticulture, forestry or agriculture to claim grant toward their training costs. Full eligibility criteria available as soon as possible. The amount available for each course is dependent on the training you wish to take, and is guided by the regional policy plan. This varies from 70% to 40%, a full list of funding will be made available at a later date. We will be able deliver a wide range of training, under the project, but on a limited basis, as this time around the projects are much tighter. I also regret, that as a result of the increased level of paper work, a registration fee will be charged, to enable us to cover the increased costing and bank fees. This fee will be in the order of £10 per person per course. This fee will not be charged to unfunded trainees. When delivering projects of this nature we are not allowed any element of profit, and must be able to prove under strict audit that we have only claimed eligible costs, at acceptable levels. We will however be able to claim for assessment fees.

The project will be delivered by 24 providers, accredited by RBAT, in the South East. You are advised that you can apply for training through any of these individuals. A full list is available by visiting either the RBAT or Lantra web sites, the links are available on our web site. Providers will also be required to publicize their available training places on the Lantra course finder site, again available on our site, as below.

Funding has also been secured for the Vale Arable Group, Orion Dairy Group, and a new North Bucks Arable Group. as well as funding for the Fresh Start academy through Laurence Gould Partnership Limited.

A full list of courses, dates and course out lines are available on our web site. We will also produce the annual training book in the next few weeks.

Please note we are now able to take on line payments via pay pal. If using this facility please remember to add VAT to course fees.

I would like to thank all the staff at SEEDA, Lantra and RBAT, both past and present for the help they have given us at Vale training to get this project off the desk!!! A big thanks to Terry Bradfield, Sarah Richards, Adam Vernon and Kate Green

Regards. Kate Mason

“The Rural Development Programme for England (RDPE) is funded by Defra and the EU. The European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD): Europe investing in rural areas”

How time flies

It seems only five minutes since I last up dated the blog, but that is now several month ago.

The winter has been very busy, despite all our concerns regarding the lack of funding. We have run a verity course from sausage making to digger driving, all of which have been well attended.

During the winter we have also seen our academy members grow in ability and confidence, with our first members realising their ambition to obtain a farm tenancy. Paul and Katie will be moving to Yorkshire in the autumn to run a mixed farm. We all wish them well. The academy speakers have been excellent, and we have received very positive feed back from members, so much so that we are currently putting the winter programme together. We will also pilot an award which will recognise the achievement of the academy members.

The farm has wintered well too. With rising corn and meat prices all looks a little brighter this spring, despite the increase in fuel bills, life is far more positive. We had a fairly good laming season and the little dears are now growing and looking well. Blue tongue has continued to play its part in our management of livestock, as the turning out of cattle had to be delayed so that the stock could be injected with the first of their two injections. Injecting them the second time was more exciting, leaving one with a cut leg, which required vets visit and two dented cars. An expensive day for all.

To end this blog we have good news on the funding front. SEEDA have accepted the consortium bid submitted by Lantra and RBAT, to deliver training under the Rural Development Plan for England. This will mean training grants will be available to our customers employed in agriculture, horticulture and now forestry from the autumn of this year. This will be great of all concerned and allow us to move all our business on. We are also hopeful that the Leader initiatives will allow others to access grant for their business development.

To close it is still raining here in Marsh, but we wish you a sunny June.

Kate Mason