Youth

A new agricultural and business training programme has been launched by the Scottish Association of Young Farmers' Clubs (SAYFC).

'Cultivating Futures' will provide access to affordable practical training, business and efficiency training and will include the SAYFC's own leadership programme 'Cultivating Leaders' and an online information hub.

The Cairngorms National Park Authority (CNPA) wants to hear your views on nine big issues in the Park including flood management, housing and economic development.

The Big Park Big Questions consultation has been launched to gather views on the key issues to be addressed in the next National Park Partnership Plan 2017-2022 - a management plan for the Park which sets out a vision and overarching strategy for managing the area.

Almost £550,000 of LEADER funding has been awarded to projects following the first round of decision making meetings with the Dumfries & Galloway LEADER Local Action Group.

Funding of £549,901.35 has been awarded to projects with a total value of £1,250,258.26. Supported projects were varied and include both The Whithorn Trust’s Iron Age Roundhouse which explores the history and heritage of the region, as well as farm diversification funding to provide an alpaca trekking experience!

This year's SURF Awards are open for entries in five categories.

These annual awards are open to any regeneration project in Scotland that is currently in operation or has been completed within two years of the September 2016 closing date.

The award categories are:

In Rural Jobs Round Up, you can find out about some current rural vacancies and jobs related to rural development.

Community Partnership - Community Action Plan Support Worker

• £19,000 – £20,000. pro rata
• 15 hours per week (.4fte) fixed term until March 2017
• Home based

The Community Partnership is seeking to appoint a part-time Community Action Plan Support Worker to aid the community action planning process in the communities of Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park.

The community group behind an active playpark in Oban and an employee of Callander Youth Project Trust are among the winners of the Scottish Charity Awards 2016.

The winners of the awards were announced at a glittering awards ceremony at the Assembly Rooms in Edinburgh on 9 July.

Shulah Allan, Convener of Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations (SCVO), which organises the awards, said:

Scotland is being represented at this week's Swedish Rural Parliament, one of the largest gatherings for rural development in Europe.

Bill Sturrock, a member of Angus LEADER Local Action Group, and Sarah Hyslop, Ayrshire LEADER Programme Manager, are being supported by the Scottish Rural Network to attend the event.

The Swedish Rural Parliament event takes place in Visby, Gotland from 27 to 29 May. The theme for 2016 is 'Towards a balanced country'.

The Scottish Rural Parliament are holding events across the country to help them create a Manifesto for Rural Scotland.

Ann-Marie Meikle and Don Morrison from the Scottish Rural Network Support Unit attended events in Inverclyde on 4 May and Newtonmore on 17 May to find out more.