Building platforms for an inclusive and powerful rural movement
Together with our members and partners, Scottish Rural Action's main area of work is building the platforms required for an inclusive and powerful rural movement.
First launched in Oban in 2014, the Scottish Rural and Islands Parliament is our most established platform. It is a three-day event bringing together hundreds of rural activists with policy and decision makers to identify action that is required to build the resilience of rural Scotland and enable rural communities to thrive. Subsequent Rural Parliaments took place in Brechin in 2016, in Stranraer in 2018, online in 2021 and in Fort William in 2023.
A current focus of the rural movement is exploring how online platforms and co-production approaches can enable the participation of groups - including younger people, minority ethnic residents and those with caring responsibilities - who frequently experience barriers to actively shaping their local communities.