COVID-19 Information Hub
Welcome to the Scottish Rural Network COVID-19 Information Hub. This hub has been set up in response to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and will be updated daily with the latest official guidance, helpful resources, funding support and news relevant to Scotland's rural communities.
If you are looking for more advice relating to agriculture and farming then please visit the COVID-19 page on ruralpayments.org
If you cannot find the answer you are looking for in the information below, then please get in touch with us via our online contact form.
Click on the links below to jump to a section
- Health & Safety Advice
- Rural Sector Guidance
- Community Support and Funding
- Business Support and Funding
- Food & Drink Support
- Volunteering & Employment Opportunities
- Learning Opportunities
- Third Sector Funding
- Wellbeing & Mental Health Support
- Surveys
- Other Useful Links
Health & Safety Advice
The same general social distancing and health & safety guidelines apply to rural Scotland as they do in more built-up areas. To protect yourself and others, you must:
- stay at home
- only go outside for essential food, health and work reasons
- stay 2 metres (6 feet) away from other people
- wash your hands regularly
- wash your hands as soon as you get home
For more detailed information and guidance, check out the following links:
- The latest official guidance from Scottish Government
- More detailed health advice from NHS Inform
- Questions & Answers from the World Health Organisation
- Guidance on wearing a face covering in public
Rural Sector Guidance
- Advice for pet and livestock owners
- Social distancing guidance for Horticulture, Fruit & Vegetable Industry Sector
- Guidance for handling farm deliveries from NFUS
- Guidance for farmers, land managers and rural businesses from DEFRA
- Guidance for sheep shearing from the National Association of Agricultural Contractors
Community Support & Funding
- Scottish Government COVID-19 Wellbeing Fund
- Scottish Government Supporting Communities Fund - this fund is issued through anchor organisations and is not available for applications. You can see a list of the organisations supported so far here.
- The Prince's Countryside COVID-19 Emergency Funding
- SCVO Community Action Directory
Business Support & Funding
For information on business support funding available through the Scottish Government, you can visit the FindBusinessSupport.gov.scot website. The three main funding streams available include the below;
- Scottish Government Newly Self-Employed Hardship Fund
- Scottish Government Creative, Tourism and Hospitality Enterprises Fund
- Scottish Government Pivotal Enterprise Resilience Fund
Funding and support available through the UK Government;
- Bounceback Loan Scheme
- Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme
- Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme
- Self-employment and Universal Credit
- Self-employment Income Support Scheme
Other funding and support available;
- Growbiz is an independent, community-based organisation with charitable status, providing support to anyone starting, running or growing a rural business. They are increasing their support during the COVID-19 crisis and are open to any small or micro-business in Perthshire or other parts of rural Scotland.
- Crowdfunder UK - Crowdfund Scotland are offering 100% free fundraising for businesses during the COVID-19 crisis.
Food & Drink Support
- Scottish Seafood Business Resilience Fund (now closed)
- Sea Fisheries Hardship Fund
- Scotland Food & Drink Coronavirus Information Hub
- Scotland Food & Drink 'Support Local' directory - a list of food and drink suppliers who can delivery locally during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Volunteering & Employment Opportunities
- Lantra Scotland Skills Matching Service (SMS)
- NFUS: Employment opportunities on farms
- Tourism & Hospitality Job Matching Service
- Skills Development Scotland: My World of Work
Learning Opportunities
- My World Of Work - Library of free online courses
- 'Future Learn' Online Courses
- OpenLearn - free online courses from The Open University
Third Sector Funding
Wellbeing & Mental Health Support
- RSABI Helpline - 0300 111 4166
- Clear Your Head - practical tips on looking after your mental wellbeing
- Support in Mind Scotland
- National Rural Mental Health Forum
- Support for victims of Domestic Violence
Surveys
- Rural Youth Project - for 18 to 28 year olds
- Children's Parliament survey - for 8 to 14 year olds
- Scottish Youth Parliament 'Lockdown Lowdown' - view the survey report
- Age UK - for older people, their families and their carers
Other useful links
- News from Scottish Government
- Connecting Scotland Campaign
- ScotPHO COVID-19 Community Vulnerability Map
- Resilience planning information from Ready Scotland
- Support for young people from Young Scot
- Information and support for Parents
- Support for older people
- Information on the Forestry & Timber sector from CONFOR
