| 1. |
- Atterton, Jane, et al.
(author)
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After Brexit : 10 key questions for rural policy in Scotland
- 2018
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Reports (pop. science, debate, etc.)abstract
- In Scotland, at the time of the EU referendum, a majority of people saw their future as remaining within the European Union and 62 per cent voted to do so. Following the result Scotland has an opportunity to make new plans and to create a fresh vision for the future that will not only benefit urban dwellers but also rural communities across the country. This poses particular challenges for policymakers, and many of these challenges are specific to Scotland and need consideration from both the devolved Scottish Government and Westminster. Scottish agriculture and its wider rural economy has some unique features, including its greater remoteness and environmental challenges, larger extent of fragile farming systems with high value for nature, and its historical crofting traditions.
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| 2. |
- Atterton, Jane, et al.
(author)
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Place-based policies and the future of rural Scotland
- 2021
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Reports (other academic/artistic)abstract
- The Covid-19 pandemic has brought tremendous challenges for all of society, not just our rural areas. However, more positively, it represents a chance to re-think some fundamental aspects of how society operates, such as how rural areas can contribute to national growth, or how growth may be re-framed in broader wellbeing, social justice and net zero terms, rather than only in narrow economic terms.For rural areas, the pandemic has opened up the possibility of even more differentiated future trajectories as migration trends, working patterns, public and private sector service provision, rural-urban connections and the role of voluntary, community and third sector groups (amongst other things) evolve to meet the changing behaviours and preferences of rural and urban residents. Arguably, this differentiation makes the need for national and regional level place-based policies combined with local place-based working all the more critical.Building on the 2017 Working Paper exploring ‘What is place-based policy and what implications does it have for rural Scotland?’ (Atterton 2017), this paper offers some further reflections on place-based policy based on our continuing work in the ‘place-based policy’ project and on research which has been published by others since the 2017 Working Paper (Section 2). The paper then discusses the importance of place in Scottish policy discourse since 2017 (Section 3), before moving on to briefly outline the potential opportunities and challenges arising for rural Scotland from the current pandemic in Section 4.With reference to developments around future funding for local development in both Scotland and the UK, Section 5 concludes the briefing by discussing how place-based policies can best support rural Scotland in taking advantage of the opportunities and mitigating (or better still, eliminating) the challenges, in order to build a more sustainable, just, healthy and climate-friendly future.
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| 3. |
- Atterton, Jane, et al.
(author)
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The role of the LEADER approach post-Brexit
- 2020
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Reports (other academic/artistic)abstract
- LEADER is the European Union’s place-based, participatory and bottom-up approach to rural development. It is based on a set of seven core principles, which have remained unchanged over time: - area-based local development strategies; - a bottom-up approach; - public-private partnerships; - facilitating innovation; - integrated and multi-sectoral actions; - networking; and - co-operation. LEADER has been delivered in rural Scotland since 1991. This research, commissioned by the Scottish Government and carried out by a team from SRUC’s Rural Policy Centre, reviews the achievements of LEADER in Scotland over time to explore its legacy and the key factors which have contributed to the impacts that it has had.
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| 4. |
- Ceccato, Vania, 1968-, et al.
(author)
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The DORA Project – Methodological Considerations at the European Level
- 2011
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Conference paper (other academic/artistic)abstract
- This paper reviews the rationale for the adoption of a multiple-methods interdisciplinaryapproach in a European comparative research project entitled the Dynamics ofRural Areas (DORA), and describes some of the experiences, advantages and limitations ofthe selected approach. DORA has as a main goal to assess the underlying reasons fordifferential economic performance in eight European regions, and involves research teams inScotland, Germany, Greece and Sweden. Four key issues are discussed. Firstly, the challengesfaced in designing a ‘common’ methodology within a multi-disciplinary international teamthat reflects both researchers’ backgrounds and specific country contexts. Secondly, some ofthe problems related to the sensitivity of economic indicators and the collection ofcomparable secondary data across different countries. Thirdly, the potential conflicts that canarise between a requirement for international comparability combined with a need torecognise the unique circumstances of individual case study areas, and finally, the variationsin respondents’ perceptions and opinions that can occur between qualitative and morequantitative approaches, and how these can be dealt with. The discussion is illustrated by apresentation of some key findings of the study, and concludes with some suggestions to helptake the debate forward.
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| 5. |
- Courtney, Paul, et al.
(author)
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Dynamics of Rural Areas (DORA)1: The Swedish case studies
- 2000
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In: ERSA. - Barcelona.
-
Conference paper (other academic/artistic)abstract
- Understanding differential economic performance at local and regional levels is akey element in devising practical strategies and programmes for sustainable rural and regionaldevelopment in different contexts. The project DORA – Dynamics of Rural Areas deals withregional and local differences in rural Europe. The DORA project seeks to improve ourunderstanding of the factors underlying and explaining persistent differences in economicperformance between rural localities. The basic hypothesis is that the differential development ofrural areas can be explained by a combination of ‘tangible’ and ‘less tangible’ factors and theway in which these interact in specific national, regional and local contexts. Such factors notonly define different opportunities and constraints for local development, but also illustrate howeffective the local and regional system is in tapping resources and opportunities and amelioratingconstraints. This paper provides a discussion of the preliminary results for the Swedish casestudy areas based on the analysis of ten factors as well as the interrelationships between them toexplain differential economic performance and gives an account of methodological challengeswhen combining qualitative and quantitative methods.
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| 6. |
- Currie, Mags, et al.
(author)
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Understanding the response to Covid-19 : exploring options for a resilient social and economic recovery in Scotland’s rural and island communities
- 2021
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Reports (other academic/artistic)abstract
- This research considered the impacts of Covid-19 on rural and island communities, how resiliently they have responded; and the most effective ways forward for their recovery. Our research approach involved: interviewing people in key rural sectors then producing a map to identify factors of resilience. This map was used to identify case study communities. Interviews were undertaken in these communities to understand local perspectives.Rural and island communities have been vulnerable to the impacts of Covid. Specific factors that have increased their vulnerability include reliance on limited employment sectors, being located far from centralised services (e.g. hospitals), limited digital connectivity; and an ageing population. Communities with a more resilient response had some or all of the following features: a strong sense of community; community organisations and local businesses that have been responsive to local needs; the existence of strategic partnerships between community organisations and the public/private sector; and good digital connectivity.Covid-19 has brought rural vulnerabilities into sharp focus and these vulnerabilities are often connected. Strategic and joined-up partnerships between community, public and private sector organisations will remain important, as well as novel and flexible funding mechanisms to enable place-based and context-specific responses.This research highlighted nine actions that would assist rural and island communities to thrive in the future. These include: 1. Building on existing and new partnerships and supporting anchor organisations 2. Capitalising on and rewarding community spirit 3. Encouraging and supporting young people to move to rural and island communities 4. Retaining and enhancing digital connectivity opportunities 5. Supporting adaptable local businesses 6. Strategic partnerships with deliver place-based solutions 7. Continue to support diversification of the rural economy 8. Enhancing the knowledge base on local-regional vulnerabilities 9. Retaining a flexible, targeted and responsive approach to financial support.
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| 7. |
- Glass, Jayne, et al.
(author)
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Community Wealth Building : Approaches relevant to rural and island communities
- 2023
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Reports (other academic/artistic)abstract
- In this review we considered how community wealth building (CWB) can be applied in a rural and island context. The Scottish Government made a strong commitment to explore the potential for CWB to deliver inclusive growth, including through the National Strategy for Economic Transformation, planning reform and commitments relating to land reform.We reviewed a range of academic and other evidence relating to CWB from Scotland and beyond, with a particular focus on the rural and island implications of taking a CWB approach.To date CWB research and practice has mainly focused on urban contexts (such as Preston in the UK), and academic work remains at an early stage, particularly in relation to rural and island contexts, where other concepts such as community development and empowerment have tended to be more commonly used. When implemented in rural and island locations, the five core principles of CWB (progressive procurement, fair employment and just labour markets, shared ownership of the local economy, socially just use of land and property, and making financial power work for local places) may bring different challenges and opportunities.
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| 8. |
- Glass, Jayne, et al.
(author)
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Covid-19, lockdowns and financial hardship in rural areas : Insights from the Rural Lives project
- 2021
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Reports (other academic/artistic)abstract
- The Rural Lives project investigated why and how people in rural areas experience and negotiate poverty and social exclusion, with a focus on financial hardship and vulnerability. It examined the roles of societal processes, individual circumstances, and various sources of support (including markets, state, voluntary and community organisations, and family and friends).This additional report examines in greater depth the impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic and lockdowns on individuals experiencing financial hardship and vulnerability in rural areas, and the responses to those impacts. Using the Rural Lives evidence and other research published since March 2020, we present key lessons and opportunities for supporting rural individuals experiencing financial hardship now and post-pandemic.Lower population densities and less reliance on and availability of public transport have meant it has been easier to maintain social distancing and thereby reduce spread of the virus in rural areas. However, the economic impact has been severe to date in rural Britain, partly because of a higher reliance on the tourism and hospitality sector.The national lockdown that began in March 2020 delivered a huge shock to rural economies and societies, most obviously through the temporary closure of many businesses and the loss of earnings to employees, self-employed and freelance workers.These impacts reinforce the importance of diversifying rural economies that rely heavily on tourism and hospitality, and of promoting ‘good work’ which offers a reasonable, secure income.The pandemic has also amplified the impacts of digital exclusion in rural areas, impacting on many aspects of the pandemic, from children’s ability to engage in home-based online learning, to people’s access to advice and support services in relation to welfare applications.Voluntary and community organisations have been crucial in ensuring that hard-to-reach groups have access to financial and other support. However, many of these organisations face a challenging future with respect to their financial resources, particularly if council budgets are squeezed further, and in respect of their ability to generate income.A wide range of formal and informal groups across the public and voluntary sectors have provided support to individuals experiencing financial hardship during the pandemic. These groups give people different ‘entry’ points to the welfare system and other support structures, depending on their individual networks. As the economic impacts of the pandemic unfold, it is increasingly important that service providers and the voluntary sector in rural areas continue to play a joined-up signposting role, connecting their clients with information and advice.While it was known pre-Covid that a substantial proportion of rural residents are at risk of poverty and experience financial vulnerability, the Rural Lives research suggests that many more rural residents will be at risk of financial hardship and vulnerability in the near future, as the full impacts of the pandemic play out and sources of support become more constrained. In short, many rural residents will be at risk of poverty unless appropriate action is taken.
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| 9. |
- Glass, Jayne, et al.
(author)
-
Facilitating local resilience : case studies of place-based approaches in rural Scotland
- 2021
-
Reports (other academic/artistic)abstract
- This report explores the extent to which place-based approaches can deliver positive economic and social outcomes in Scotland’s rural areas and small towns. We studied five case studies of place-based approaches in rural Scotland:1. Tackling the climate emergency in Callander2. Strengthening Communities in the Western Isles3. A Heart for Duns: the changing role of a local development trust4. Partnership working for place-based policy: lessons from Initiative at the Edge5. Land reform policy and transformational community changePlace-based approaches in rural Scotland have enabled community capacity building, community ownership/management of land and assets, and partnership-working to deliver local outcomes and services. A flexible national and regional place-based policy framework can be supportive of local place-based approaches, but should acknowledge different local circumstances, assets and needs, and the lived experiences of local people.Place-based approaches require financial and other development support/advice in the early stages. This might be particularly in relation to locally-led community planning to address place-based needs, acquiring local community assets and creating links between local actors and broader regional/national policy processes. More flexible place-based policy frameworks should be developed at national and regional level which facilitate cross-sectoral working, break down silos and encourage collaboration between different actors and governance levels (including communities and local authorities).The research identifies four recommendations to enhance rural place-based approaches:1. Long-term, flexible investment in place-based approaches is needed to ensure the delivery of solutions rooted in community needs and local action.2. Communities need to be able to operate with a degree of autonomy to increase competence, capacity and confidence at the local level.3. This local autonomy needs support from national/regional levels over the long-term, by transferring resources, ensuring that the voices and experiences of communities are heard, and working in (equal) partnership across governance levels.4. There is a need for mechanisms by which the key features and requirements of national and regional policy are translated into something tangible and relevant at the local level.
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| 10. |
- Glass, Jayne, et al.
(author)
-
Improving our understanding of child poverty in rural and island Scotland
- 2022
-
Reports (other academic/artistic)abstract
- This report has two aims: 1. To explore existing datasets and identify gaps in our understanding of trends and experiences of child poverty in rural and island communities. 2. To examine interventions employed in rural and island communities to tackle the causes of child poverty and support those experiencing child poverty.We conducted a desk-based review of existing datasets and relevant reports. We interviewed a range of experts working on child poverty at national, regional and local levels. We also reviewed documents received via the project advisory group.It is generally agreed that tackling generic or structural challenges associated with living in a rural or island community will help to alleviate child poverty in these areas. However, there are some key data and knowledge gaps that limit the extent to which local authority leads and partners can take effective action to support low-income families in rural and island communities.These data gaps mostly relate to information at a sub-local authority level, including: eligibility and uptake of welfare benefits; cost of living; fuel poverty; uptake and provision of early learning and childcare; and the combined impact of employability and skills development initiatives. Importantly, more attention needs to be paid to lived experience data that can inform the design and delivery of effective support for rural and island children experiencing poverty.A range of interventions exist to tackle the causes of child poverty and ensure families have the support they need. Interventions can be grouped around themes and tend to relate to: employment and skills development support; early years; cost of living; health and wellbeing; partnership working; digital technologies; school-based approaches; and strengthening the voices of children and families.To address these data gaps and raise the profile of lived experience data, we make four recommendations to the Scottish Government.
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| 11. |
- Glass, Jayne, et al.
(author)
-
Learning from European Rural Movements : Research to inform a Scottish approach
- 2022
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Reports (other academic/artistic)abstract
- To inform the development of a rural movement in Scotland, this report explores the key characteristics, roles and methods of engagement employed by established rural movements in other European countries.We studied rural movements in 10 countries (Albania, England, Estonia, Finland, Ireland, Latvia, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Northern Ireland, Sweden). We collected information via a desk-based review of relevant literature, interviews with representatives from each of the movements, and an online seminar to discuss the initial findings (hosted by the EuropeanRural Communities Alliance).We identified six overarching themes with associated learning points for Scotland. The themes relate to the structure of the organisation, collaboration, purpose, activities, relationship with government, and place-based action.The findings demonstrate how rural movements represent an organised approach to providing a network and voice for rural areas, their people and those working to support rural development. An important role for the movements is advocacy to shape local, regional and national policy, while another important role is enabling shared learning and knowledge exchange. The character of each movement reflects and responds to the national context in which it operates, including the system of administration and culture.Three insights can be put forward from this research to inform the Scottish approach. We suggest that these are used as a basis for ongoing discussions between Scottish Government, Scottish Rural Action and others seeking to develop an effective and impactful Scottish rural movement:A Scottish rural movement should bring together diverse actors to inform and influence policy.A Scottish rural movement needs a clear identity and clarity of purpose related to networking and knowledge sharing.A Scottish rural movement should be supported to develop constructive relationships with LEADER LAGs and staff to ensure that the movement represents local issues and needs effectively.
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| 12. |
- Glass, Jayne, et al.
(author)
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Rural lives during COVID-19: crisis, resilience and redistributing societal risk
- 2023
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In: Scottish Geographical Journal. - 1470-2541 .- 1751-665X. ; , s. 1-21
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- This paper explores the redistribution and rescaling of societal risk in rural Britain during the COVID-19 pandemic, as one episode of the permacrisis. Drawing on empirical work in three contrasting areas of Scotland and England, we analyse individuals’ experiences of risk and of the institutions which offer them support in times of crisis (markets, state, voluntary and community organisations, and family and friends). Our findings reveal the unequal distribution of societal risk during the pandemic, exacerbated by a legacy of precariatisation and individualisation in the labour market and welfare reforms. Although the state acted to mitigate risk and financial hardship during the lockdown, it was often voluntary and community organisations that filled the gaps left by the inability of the state to reach effectively into rural areas. Social infrastructure and institutional capital are therefore central to the mitigation of vulnerability and societal risk. This raises important questions about the capacity of institutions to provide support in times of crisis to rural citizens. Unless there is societal pooling of risk through such institutions to ensure social protection and that nobody is disadvantaged by where they live, future episodes of the permacrisis are likely to exacerbate inequalities and vulnerabilities in rural communities.
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| 13. |
- Mark, Shucksmith, et al.
(author)
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Rural Poverty Today : Experiences of Social Exclusion in Rural Britain
- 2023. - 1
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Book (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Poverty is perceived as an urban problem, yet many in rural Britain also experience hardship. This book explores how and why people in rural areas experience and negotiate poverty and social exclusion. It examines the role of societal processes, individual circumstances, sources of support (markets; state; voluntary organisations; family and friends) and the role of place.It concludes that the UK’s welfare system is poorly adapted to rural areas, with the COVID-19 pandemic, Brexit and cutbacks exacerbating pressures. Voluntary organisations increasingly fill gaps in support left by the state. Invaluable to those in policy and practice, the book recommends a combination of person-based and place-based approaches to tackle rural poverty.
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| 14. |
- McMorran, Rob, et al.
(author)
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Review of International Experience of Community, Communal and Municipal Ownership of Land
- 2020
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Reports (other academic/artistic)abstract
- Community landownership in Scotland is generally understood as ownership of title to land and/or assets by a community body, linked to a defined geographic community. It is a relatively distinct category of landownership, regarded as different to public ownership of land (e.g. by government agencies and non-departmental public bodies). In contrast, the interpretation of ‘community’ or ‘communal’ ownership of land varies in other countries and is often less clearly distinguished from public ownership. Municipal ownership as a form of state ownership where the land is owned by municipal bodies (e.g. communes) at different scales, is also relevant due to the high level of community control. Communal or municipal rights to land are relatively common globally and across much of Europe, with a growing, statutory recognition of rural communities as collective owners of land. This research was commissioned to provide an overview of relevant forms of community, communal and municipal landownership in other countries, and suggest how lessons from international experiences could be applicable in Scotland.
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| 15. |
- Shucksmith, Mark, et al.
(author)
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Rural Lives : Understanding financial hardship and vulnerability in rural areas
- 2021
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Reports (other academic/artistic)abstract
- Recent analysis shows that half of all rural residents in Britain fell into poverty at some time during 1991-2008, and the Financial Conduct Authority found in 2018 that more than half of rural residents exhibit financial vulnerability.This project investigates why and how people in rural areas experience (and negotiate) poverty and social exclusion, with a focus on financial hardship and vulnerability. It examines the roles of societal processes, individual circumstances and various sources of support (markets; state; voluntary and community organisations; family and friends).Interviews were conducted with individuals experiencing financial vulnerability and representatives of organisations offering support in three case study areas between October 2019 and September 2020, so both before and during the Covid-19 pandemic. The study areas were Harris, East Perthshire and Northumberland.
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| 16. |
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