Abstract

Social innovation is an increasingly prominent agent of change in rural communities. Community groups are filling voids in rural service provision, energising nature and heritage conservation projects and supporting a range of cultural and social activities. With no sign of neoliberalism waning, this paper explores mechanisms that can provide effect support for social innovation, with a particular focus on the EU’s LEADER approach. Drawing parallels between social innovation and Neo-endogenous Development, the chapter concludes that a combination of top-down and bottom-up approaches are required and the most effective outcomes arise where local groups become more empowered to make decisions within a supportive, but not over-bureaucratic framework.