Develop
your place
on earth

We believe that those who live and work in a place also know best how that place can best develop.

At Leader Östra Skåne, your association, company or organization can apply for money to get started!

Here's how it works

Test your idea

You have a project idea and test it by sending us an idea description.

Application

You submit the application and budget in the Swedish Board of Agriculture's e-service. The board decides whether the project should be granted support or not. The Board of Agriculture will then make a formal decision, which means a certain waiting time.

Implementation

You will receive a start notice from the Swedish Board of Agriculture and can begin implementing your project.

End

You evaluate and report the project's results and effects in a final report.

Throughout the entire process you will receive support and all the help you need from the leader office!

Projects in eastern Skåne

Våtmark med vass och lågt liggande dimma, omgiven av skog i morgonljus.

SÄVa – forest, meadow and water in Smålatorp

SÄVa in Smålatorp develops a living landscape where forest, meadow and water interact. Through the restoration of wetlands and cultural environments as well as new accessible paths, biodiversity, recreation and local collaboration are strengthened.

Litet rött träskjul vid en stilla sjö, omgivet av grönskande träd och en uppdragen roddbåt.

The Sea Kingdom of Skåne – closer than you think

The Sea Kingdom of Skåne will become better known to visitors from Greater Copenhagen through strengthened collaboration, skills development, and joint marketing of nature, culture, and local experiences.

Historisk stenbro över Helge å med bågformade valv och stilla vatten som speglar konstruktionen

Pre-study hiking trail from Visseltofta to Åhus

A new trail will connect nature, culture and history from Småland to the coast of Skåne – and create new experiences along the way.

Person sitter utomhus på sten med laptop i naturmiljö och arbetar digitalt i landskap på Österlen

Sustainable business in Österlen

The project strengthens sustainable entrepreneurship in Österlen through networks, knowledge and collaboration for small and medium-sized enterprises.

Grafisk bild med texten ”UNG i Östra Skåne – Stöd till din projektidé!” i svarta och gula bokstäver mot en vågig gul- och vitrutigt bakgrund.

Umbrella Project Young

We are now making it easier for young people to realize their ideas in eastern Skåne. Through three umbrella projects, young people can quickly and easily seek support for their own initiatives that develop the countryside.

Grafisk bild med texten ”UNG i Östra Skåne” i stora gula och vita bokstäver mot en färgstark bakgrund i grönt, blått och gult med penseldrag som påminner om en målad flagga.

Young in Eastern Skåne

Young people in eastern Skåne want to be involved and have an impact – now we are creating the structures to make it possible. Through a youth-led initiative, we are strengthening commitment, knowledge and faith in the future throughout the leader area.

Ryttare hoppar hinder med hästar i montage med föreningens emblem för Vinslövs ryttarförening

Accessible equestrian facility

Vinslöv is developing an accessible equestrian facility where more people can participate in equestrian sports and community, regardless of functional ability.

Flygbild över småhusområde nära sjö och skog i Hässleholms kommun, som visar en typisk stationsortsmiljö

Live Stations

Project for the development of station locations in Hässleholm that strengthens collaboration, engagement and future belief in the local community.

Barnhänder rör vid en drejad keramikskål och utforskar form och yta i en skapande miljö

RÖRD – Art meeting place for children

RÖRD creates an art meeting place for children in Skåne where play, participation and sensory experiences are at the center.

Flytande bastu vid brygga i Kåseberga hamn med trädäck och räcken, förtöjd vid kaj i lugnt vatten

Kåseberga sauna

Floating sauna in Kåseberga attracts visitors all year round. A sustainable investment that strengthens the harbor as a meeting place and tourist destination.

Grupp vuxna vid tennisbana i Skåne som deltar i träff om banunderhåll och föreningssamarbete

Red carpet

A leader project in eastern Skåne strengthens tennis clubs through collaboration, knowledge exchange and joint solutions.

Kanoter vid strand och brygga där människor förbereder paddling i sjö med skog runt Immelnområdet

A magical nature experience – a sustainable canoe trail in the Immeln, Raslången and Halen lake systems

Project for a sustainable canoe trail in Immeln, Raslången and Halen. The collaboration will reduce wear and tear and ensure the long-term nature experience.

Czech study visit provided new perspectives on local development

A delegation from the Czech LAG Holicko visited Leader Östra Skåne to be inspired by local projects, exchange experiences and discuss the future of rural development in Europe.

Illustration i gula toner med en smartphone i mitten som visar logotypen ”UNG i Östra Skåne” och ett porträtt av en kvinna på skärmen. Runt mobilen svävar en mikrofon, hörlurar och abstrakta cirkelformer, vilket ger känslan av en podcast eller ljudinspelning.

Leader guest podcast

Listen to Ermina Ström summarize the leader project "Young in Eastern Skåne" in twenty minutes.

Porträttcollage av styrelseledamöter i Leader Östra Skåne mot grön bakgrund, med flera personer från olika bakgrunder och yrkesroller.

New members of the board

Leader Östra Skåne has five new board members. Here you can read more about their experiences and what they bring to the work for local development.

How is a living countryside created?

In our magazine 2026 you will meet the projects, people and ideas that are developing Eastern Skåne - for real.

CALL FOR CALL – Green transformation

Leader Eastern Skåne welcomes project applications within focus area three, green transformation.

Welcome Ermina!

Get to know Leader Östra Skåne's new project manager and youth coach.

En hand som håller en papperslapp som det står "Nominera" på.

Before the 2026 Annual General Meeting

Leader Östra Skåne's association meeting will take place in April 2026. So now is the time to start looking for suitable representatives for the association's board and nomination committee and to write motions.

Welcome Joanna!

New project coach and administrator at Leader Eastern Skåne!

Information autumn 2025

Time to apply for support for your project? Join one of our digital activities!

Work with us!

Are you passionate about young people's participation in rural development? Do you want to help develop eastern Skåne? Apply for a job as a project manager/youth coach with us!

The Leader method is highlighted in the government's investigation

The Leader method is highlighted in an interim report by SVESAM – the Inquiry into Sweden's Cohesion Development

Closed for summer 30/6-8/8

The Leader office is closed between June 30 and August 8.

 

Articles

10 years with Leader – and Joanna is still just as curious about new ideas

For ten years, Joanna Persson has worked with Leader. Here she shares her lessons, the memorable projects, and why local development never becomes monotonous.

Illustration av samspelet mellan natur och mänsklig aktivitet i havsmiljön, med fiskar, fåglar, säl, musslor, tång, fiske, båt och vindkraft.

When many perspectives meet for Hanö Bay

How can we take care of Hanö Bay by viewing the sea, coast, waterways, and people as a whole? Through ecosystem-based marine management, actors with different perspectives come together to share knowledge, build networks, and develop concrete actions.

Deltagare vid företagarfrukosten i Österslöv lyssnar på en presentation om Leaderprojektet Sjöriket Skåne.

The Sea Kingdom of Skåne will strengthen the area's attractiveness through collaboration

Nearly 80 people participated when the leader project ”The Sea Kingdom of Skåne – closer than you think” was presented at Bykrogen in Österslöv. During the morning, collaboration, marketing, and new opportunities for businesses and associations were in focus.

Husbil i skogsglänta samt Julia och hunden Enzo.

On four wheels and four paws through Leader-Sweden

What happens when you set out on a motorhome vacation without any major plan? For me and Enzo, the journey also became an exploration among leader projects, hiking trails, farms, and local initiatives. Suddenly, Leader appeared almost everywhere.

Leende person i en äppelodling som skördar röda äpplen och håller ett nyplockat äpple i handen.

The many lives of the apple

How can a simple fruit create businesses, meeting places and innovation? Follow the journey of the apple through Leader projects that develop cultivation, processing, education, tourism and the future Swedish apple industry.

Porträttbild av en man i mörk kostym, vit skjorta och mörk slips. Han står framför en enfärgad grågrön bakgrund och tittar mot kameran med ett lätt leende. Bilden är professionellt tagen med mjukt ljus och neutral ton.

Hello there, Governor Peter Danielsson!

Maria Lundgren, Leader Skåne Mitt Nordväst, has interviewed County Governor Peter Danielsson about the future role of rural areas and Leader.

Abandoned house is on the agenda

All over Sweden and Finland, so-called abandoned house detectives are working to map empty houses, contact owners and create new life in the countryside through reuse and moving in.

Unga personer i möte runt ett bord under ungdomsstyrelsens första träff i Östra Skåne

The youth board in eastern Skåne is now up and running!

During the first meeting, ideas were developed to strengthen young people's participation. Now we are looking for more people who want to join.

What does Leader actually contribute?

A new compilation based on over 3,000 projects shows how local initiatives create long-term development throughout Sweden.

Kvinna i svart jacka står utanför Stadshuset i Hässleholm, med snö på marken och entrén synlig i bakgrunden

Jeanette Junge shows the way for non-profits

Interview with Jeanette Junge about how Leader projects strengthen rural areas in eastern Skåne.

Blue Leader meeting with focus on water and collaboration

Study visit to Farm Fish, projects on seaweed and water conservation, and international perspectives when the Blue Leader Meeting was held in Eastern Skåne.

Southeast Skåne's innovation center in focus at conference in Brussels

Leader and southeast Skåne were highlighted at the "European Startup Village Forum 2025" in Brussels.

 

Between 15 and 25 years old?

Logotypen: "Ung i östra Skåne" i gul och vit text samt texten "Stöd till din projektidé!"

Projects in Sweden

Astrid Lindgren's hometown
Partnership future – young and adults in collaboration

When young people are allowed to participate in shaping their community, a stronger local society is created. The project will develop new methods for participation and collaboration that give young people a clearer voice in community development.
Barnhänder rör vid en drejad keramikskål och utforskar form och yta i en skapande miljö

Leader Eastern Skåne
RÖRD – Art meeting place for children

RÖRD creates an art meeting place for children in Skåne where play, participation and sensory experiences are at the center.

Leader Bergslagen
Young People on the Lake

Through the children's great interest, the project idea was sparked to seek funding to create a long-term operation with children and youth via the GT10 class. A racing boat for 7-12 year olds.

Leader Göta River & Säve River
Development of exhibition at the Surte Glassworks Museum

A new exhibition is planned for the Glassworks Museum in Surte. The project will bring cultural heritage to life and create an attractive destination for more people.

Astrid Lindgren's hometown
Safe playground

Safe Playground is a project run by Målilla-Gårdveda Hembygdsförening. The aim is to design a safe and attractive playground, which can attract more visitors to the local history park with its cultural and historical offerings. The initiative will also enable children with mobility impairments to use part of the playground.

Leader Sörmland Coast
From rat poison to culture

From rat poison to culture – at Fagernäs in Mölnbo, an old industrial environment is given new life as a place for art, culture, creation, and meetings.

Astrid Lindgren's hometown
The preparedness project Ready

The umbrella project Redo supports local initiatives that strengthen preparedness, security and collaboration in our rural areas. Through leader checks, associations are given the opportunity to develop safety points, emergency plans and other initiatives that make rural areas better equipped for future crises.
bild-på-ordet-hip-hop-kanske-projekt-pennysound

Leader Bergslagen
Pennysound Bergslagen

The goal of the Pennysound Bergslagen project is to set up a studio and establish activities for young people in Bergslagen, northern Örebro County.

Leader High Coast
Prepared villages

”"Prepared Villages" is aimed at the public in the municipalities of Örnsköldsvik and Sollefteå and is based on a bottom-up perspective.

Astrid Lindgren's hometown
Outdoor area Kinda Storskog

Kinda municipality has been granted project support for the project: Outdoor area Kinda Storskog. The project will highlight the beautiful natural environments that already exist in the area and create conditions for more people to discover the place.
Arholma ritning

Leader Stockholm area
Arholma meeting place for swimming and more

Arholma village association transforms the island's old shipyard area into a meeting place for swimming life, boating life, and cultural events.

Astrid Lindgren's hometown
The Whole Person Vetlanda

The Whole Person Vetlanda is granted support to start a social grocery store – a so-called Share-store – where surplus food is utilized. With funds from Leader Astrid Lindgren's Homeland, the project aims to contribute to reduced food waste, increased participation, and strengthened social sustainability in Vetlanda.

 

Our local co-financiers