Social Inclusion in Rural Areas: Innovative Projects for Young People

Research undertaken to gather information on innovative community and policy responses to problems faced by young people living in Scotland's rural areas.

This study was carried out by Emily Bain for Scottish Executive Social Research, Rural Research Team, between October 2001 and April 2002.

Together with older people and low income households, young people are consistently affected by rural social exclusion.

This study reviewed a number of innovative rural youth projects. The main findings are:

• Youth consultation and direct involvement of youth in decision making strengthens projects.
• Project action plans are invaluable for enabling youth to communicate their objectives to the community and engender support.
• A sustainability plan is a useful tool in applying for funding.
• Volunteers are more likely to be recruited and remain involved if no excessive responsibilities or time demands are placed on them.
• A management group or committee to provide accountability to stakeholders gives a greater degree of working confidence because of perceived risk minimisation.
• Rural youth projects have specific funding needs to ensure accessibility to all local youth e.g. subsidised transport
• The study concludes that a broader review would increase the amount of good practice available to rural communities who might wish to set up rural youth projects.

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For further information

Contact	:	Scottish Executive Social Research
Address	:	2J Victoria Quay, Edinburgh EH6 6QQ
Phone	:	0131 244 7560
Fax	:	0131 244 7573
Email	:	socialresearch@scotland.gsi.gov.uk

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http://www.scotland.gov.uk/socialresearch