Scottish Rural Action has announced a two day conference next month to explore the challenges and opportunities facing rural Scotland. Organisers are inviting representatives from rural Scotland’s communities, businesses and organisations to gather to kick start a ‘rural movement’ to make rural Scotland’s voice heard in the corridors of government.
The event takes place from 26-27 February at New Lanark Visitor Centre, the renowned world heritage site. Speakers and contributors at the event include Fergus Ewing MSP, Cabinet Secretary for the Rural Economy, Robin McAlpine of Common Weal on the Green New Deal, Katherine Trebeck of the Wellbeing Alliance on the Rural Economy and Inclusive Growth, Aileen Macleod, former MEP, and Niall McShannon, Managing Director of Clydesdale Community Initiatives on social enterprise. The conference will also include a choice of field visits and a range of participatory workshops on topics such as climate change, repopulation, community development and rural engagement.
Vanessa Halhead, Acting Chair of Scottish Rural Action, said:
“This is a critically important time of change, and this conference is an opportunity for individuals and organisations to influence and inform policy and activity that affects the people who live and work in rural Scotland.“More than 90% of Scotland is classed as rural, with twenty percent of Scotland’s population living in those rural areas, so it is absolutely essential that the needs of rural communities are met. Scottish Rural Action has been tasked by the Scottish Government with starting a ‘rural movement’ that will make sure the voice of rural Scotland is heard. This conference is the starting point of creating that rural movement.”
Scottish Rural Action also organise the Scottish Rural Parliament, which is scheduled to take place later this year.
The conference is free of charge to attend. Full details and the conference programme can be found at www.sra.scot.
