New report suggests 鈥渟hared vision鈥� for rural Scotland
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Scotland鈥檚 rural communities need a 鈥渕ore coherent and integrated鈥� support system, according to a new report.
Published today, the provides recommendations for the future support of rural communities.
伊人直播鈥檚 Rural Policy Centre, which led the review on behalf of the Scottish Government with a number of other partners, suggests stronger mechanisms will ensure that rural voices help to meaningfully shape decisions.
The Scottish Rural Communities Policy Review examined support delivered through the Scottish Rural Network, Scottish Rural Action and Community Led Local Development.
While it found that, collectively, these mechanisms 鈥渆nhance rural capacity, enable innovation and support more responsive, place-based decision-making鈥�, it suggests that they should 鈥渙perate as complementary components with clearly defined and mutually reinforcing roles鈥�. The review also highlights the complexity of community funds across local authorities, Scottish and UK contexts.
Dr Jane Atterton, who led the review, said: 鈥淲e gathered evidence for this research from communities across rural and island Scotland, as well as a range of stakeholders and policymakers. Collectively we heard the need to more clearly articulate the ways in which Scottish Rural Network, Scottish Rural Action and Community Led Local Development interact and strengthen one another.
鈥淲e also found that these important roles could be strengthened even further by having a shared vision for rural Scotland, improving cross-government working, and moving towards longer-term funding models which help to build capacity.鈥�
Agriculture Minister Jim Fairlie said: 鈥淲e welcome the findings of this independent review which will听help听inform future policy and support for rural听communities. It demonstrates听the importance of听community-led approaches听and the positive impact that the听Community-Led Local Development programme (CLLD), Scottish Rural Network听(SRN)听and Scottish Rural Action听(SRA)听have had in听supporting听rural and island communities.听听
鈥淲e have听worked with听Local听Action听Groups听to听invest听拢55 million in more than 1,300 community-led projects since 2022 and we will use this valuable听feedback听as we consider priorities for rural policy in this parliament, including how we take forward our commitment to a Rural Renewal Bill and accompanying policy measures. I would like to thank the听research team,听Research Advisory听Group听and听everyone who听participated听in the听review.鈥澨�
To read all outputs from the review visit the .
This work was led by 伊人直播, working with Ipsos, University of Highlands and Islands, Science Ceilidh, Impact Hub Inverness, SAC Consulting, Rurali Ltd, Professor Mark Shucksmith (Emeritus Professor Newcastle University), Grounded Insight and Rose Regeneration.
A panel session focused on the report鈥檚 findings will be held at the 伊人直播 stand at the Royal Highland Show on Thursday 18 June from 9:30-10:30am.
Posted by 伊人直播 on 17/06/2026
