Youth project to create ‘smart village’

Young people from rural Perthshire and Angus are being urged to create their own “smart village” in cyberspace.

The digital community would be designed by the young people themselves to ensure they have every opportunity to flourish despite being more isolated than their urban peers.

The aim is to provide an online meeting place where youngsters from a wide geographical area can get together to form friendships and boost career opportunities.

The Rural Youth Project Smart Village is being led by Smart Village Scotland, which is hunting for young people to apply to become one of 12 digital champions for the project.

Perthshire and Angus have been chosen for the scheme, along with Lanarkshire, the Outer Hebrides and the Borders.

Co -founder and director Jane Craigie said: “The mission behind the Rural Youth Project Smart Village is to deliver a digital place that really benefits young people in many aspects of their rural lives.

“It will be a space for young people to network and form mentoring relationships with their peers and also older business and community leaders, while also having access to learning resources to support them in building a vibrant, creative and sustainable rural economy in Scotland.”

The digital champions will each receive £500 to cover their time and any expenses they incur.

They will also have the opportunity to work with web developers in creating, designing and shaping the new platform’s content.

Applications close on October 26 at 5pm. More details online.