Rural services

NHS Education for Scotland (NES) are leading the development and establishment of the National Centre for Remote and Rural Health and Social Care on behalf of the Scottish Government with a proposed launch date of spring 2023 (read more about the National Centre here). 

Pragmatic approach to support hosts during cost of living crisis.

Recognising the pressures short-term lets hosts face at this time, legislation has been laid to extend the deadline for applying for a licence by six months to 1 October 2023.

An agreement to invest £100 million in the future economic prosperity of Orkney, Shetland and the Outer Hebrides was signed today (20th January) in Orkney by UK and Scottish Government Ministers and the Council Leaders of the three island groups.

A total of 680 rural businesses with projects that protect the environment and mitigate the impacts of climate change will share more than £14 million this year from the Agri-Environment Climate Scheme (AECS).

Regeneration projects in disadvantaged and rural communities across Scotland will receive a share of almost £27 million funding.

A  “cutting edge” study published today has put an economic value on Scotland’s woodlands in helping to prevent flooding.

It estimates that the capacity of woodlands to store water and slow down run-off to downstream communities after heavy rain, is worth almost £100 million a year in Scotland.

With the prospect of wetter winters due to the effects of climate change, and more intense rainfall in summer, the ability of trees to reduce flood risk is becoming increasingly important. 

Former Royal Marines and farming charity RSABI are working together to deliver a pioneering mental health initiative for Scottish agriculture, being rolled out from this month.

The ground-breaking Mental Health First Aid training is aimed at encouraging people to talk more freely about mental health, reducing stigma and improving understanding about what to look out for and how to respond when someone may be struggling.

Scotland’s Census consists of many elements.

Almost 90% of households made a census return, with 90% of those completing their return online.

Appointment of Members to the Board of Quality Meat Scotland (x3)

Fares on the Northern Isles and Clyde & Hebrides ferry networks will be frozen for six months.

Ticket prices will be held at current levels from April until the end of September to help people and businesses from Scotland’s remote rural and island communities. The freeze is also responsive to the challenges faced on the Clyde and Hebrides network in recent times.

The fare freeze will allow operators to release their timetables from April onwards.

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