Project seeks insight into rural young people

A global research project has been launched to look at the needs and views of rural young people.

The Rural Youth Project, which will focus on Scotland, England, Wales, Austria, Australia and the USA, sets out to better understand young people aged between 18 and 28 living in rural areas.

It has been launched to coincide with the Scottish Government’s Year of Young People in 2018 and it will combine an online survey, year-long in-depth video logs of between 15 and 20 people, and a Rural Youth Ideas Festival on a farm in Kinross in July.

The project has received the backing of various groups including Lantra Scotland, the Scottish Association of Young Farmers’ Clubs (SAYFC), Scottish Enterprise and Scottish Rural Action.

One of the organisers, Rebecca Dawes, who has worked for SAYFC, said there was a lack of insight into rural youth.

She said: “The research to date amongst rural young people, both nationally and internationally, has been fragmented, but what we do know is that rural areas have a lower percentage of 16-34 yearolds and evidence suggests that migration of young people away from rural areas hinges on education, employment opportunities, housing and public transport availability – some of the many research areas that we are surveying.”

SAYFC chief executive Penny Montgomerie said: “Young people need to have the confidence to drive policy and influence decision makers on matters that impact them rather than relying on older generations to make presumptions on their needs.”

The online survey is open until April 30 and it can be accessed at www. ruralyouthproject.com

Project organiser Rebecca Dawes.