Rural services

In this report, Ailsa Clark from Inspiralba tells us about the European Network for Rural Development Thematic Group for Smart Villages event held in Brussels on 26 October 2017.

The Smart Villages European Union (EU) Action has a focus on revitalising rural services through both digital and social innovation in rural areas.

There is still to enter the Rural Community Co-operative Awards 2017.

The awards are run by the charity Plunkett Foundation and seek the best examples of rural community action from across the UK. This year's awards close for entries on Friday 27 October.

An exciting new LEADER-funded project to increase horse-riding holidays in the Scottish Borders has received the go ahead.

Funds have now been secured to employ an equestrian tourism coordinator for 2 years. They will liaise with all relevant interests including businesses and land managers to encourage cooperation, develop marketing, improve digital mapping and to support local and longer distance rides.

Your views are wanted in a consultation on free bus passes for older and disabled people and Modern Apprentices.

The Scottish Government is launching this Consultation to seek your views on the concessionary travel scheme for older and disabled people ("the Scheme").

All types of projects - no matter the size, location or technologies - are being encouraged to apply for the European Broadband Awards 2017.

If you're a public or private organisation involved in a project providing people with access to high-speed broadband internet you can apply.

The projects will apply to, and will be awarded in, one of the five categories:

A new walking and cycling route in Tyndrum which allows cyclists to bypass the A82 trunk road has officially opened.

The new path has been created by the Loch Lomond & The Trossachs Countryside Trust and is suitable for cyclists, horses, buggies and walkers and includes a brand new bridge connecting the communities and businesses of Tyndrum and Crianlarich.

Are you a business owner in rural Scotland? Complete this survey on rural Britain’s digital potential.

The Scottish Government is seeking views in their consultation Superfast broadband in Scotland: reaching 100%.

The Reaching 100% Programme (R100) is striving to extend the availability of Next Generation Access (NGA) broadband infrastructure to meet the Scottish Government’s commitment to deliver superfast broadband access to 100% of premises in Scotland by 2021.

Rural Wisdom Get-together

Outside the Box's Rural Wisdom project is exploring ways to make rural areas work better for older people. They're going to be holding a series of events across Scotland for anyone who is interested in this work to come together, to share thoughts, to hear from others and to build the network around the country.

They're pleased to now to holding the second of these events in Galashiels.

The day will include:

A partnership of Police Scotland, NFU Scotland and Neighbourhood Watch Scotland have launched their Rural Watch Scotland initiative.

'Rural Watch Scotland' is an extension of the Neighbourhood Watch concept and a product of the Scottish Partnership Against Rural Crime (SPARC) designed specifically for the rural communities of Scotland.

The objectives of Rural Watch Scotland are to:

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