10 Aug 2018

Rural youth making their voices heard

Young people in rural communities have been given their chance to help shape the future of the rural economy.

The Rural Youth Project, launched at the start of this year by Jane Craigie Marketing, has been developed to find out more about the opinions of 18 to 28 year olds with a view to informing the wider industry and policy-makers and support the future of the rural youth.

The project has so far seen an online survey completed by more than 750 young people living and working in rural areas around the world highlighting key challenges and opportunities for this generation, as well as a Rural Youth Ideas Festival in Scotland where the results of the survey were shared.

Project co-founder, Jane Craigie, said, “The principle of the project is to give young people their voices in what they want to do and change, not what older people think they need. The results of the survey illustrate first-hand the true barriers and opportunities which are influencing young people’s choices.

“Young people are the life-blood and future of rural communities, and if we can unite young exuberance with the assets older people can offer – experience, networks and the ability to mobilise resources to help – we can empower young people to enact change themselves and shape their own future as well as that of the rural economy.”

A summary of the key findings from the survey:

  • 72% were optimistic about their future but 25% were considering moving into a more urban area
  • 45% said they found it difficult to find work close to where they live
  • 60% want more access to activities to meet other young people in their area
  • 94% consider digital connectivity essential to their future
  • Over half of the respondents said they didn’t feel they had a say in the future of their community

The Rural Youth Project will run initially until 2022, with an annual survey to develop the research. The findings to date will be used to launch three pilot projects in 2019 to nurture enterprising people from rural backgrounds and their ideas; to develop lasting links, understanding and opportunities; and to facilitate international exchanges with young people in other nations.

Find out more about the Rural Youth Project here.

Read more like this here.

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