Volunteers wanted for Scottish Rural Parliament

Scottish Rural Action are recruiting volunteers to campaign on rural issues and facilitate workshops at the 2016 Scottish Rural Parliament event.

The Scottish Rural Parliament brings together people from communities and decision-makers from public bodies, NGOs and private bodies, with the aim of improving rural policy and finding better ways of providing services.

Volunteers will create and develop campaigns at grassroots level on matters affecting their local rural communities and will also facilitate workshops at the Scottish Rural Parliament event in Brechin, Angus from 6 to 8 October 2016. 

Gary Dunion, Volunteer Co-ordinator for Scottish Rural Action, said:

"This second session of the Scottish Rural Parliament aims to galvanise a grassroots rural movement to make the voices of Scotland's rural communities heard at the highest level, and our volunteers will be the core of that movement.

"Becoming a Scottish Rural Parliament volunteer is a fantastic opportunity to get the training and support to help you organise your community to win campaigns that will benefit you and your neighbours, and people across rural Scotland.

"Volunteers will get training in facilitating meetings and workshops, and will take charge of the workshops at the Scottish Rural Parliament in Brechin on 6-8 October that will decide on the movement's action plan for the next two years, on issues like housing, transport, local democracy and digital connectivity.

"After the Scottish Rural Parliament in October, volunteers will organise campaigns on the issues that matter most to them and their communities, supported every step of the way by Scottish Rural Action.

"This great opportunity is open to absolutely everyone across rural Scotland. We're especially keen to hear from older people, people who are already active in their local community and people from less advantaged backgrounds of any kind.

"The second Scottish Rural Parliament will be bigger and better than the first, and this is your chance to be part of turning that momentum into real, positive change for rural Scotland!"

Scottish Rural Action, which organises the Scottish Rural Parliament, are being supported by the Voluntary Action Fund and the Scottish Rural Network to develop the network of grassroots volunteers.

Those who volunteer will be asked to attend a one-day training event in September, along with the Rural Parliament event, and will receive support and professional training in being able to design and facilitate workshops, ensuring every voice is heard in their community about the major issues that matter.

If you’d like to register your interest in volunteering as a facilitator, visit the Scottish Rural Parliament website.

Applications are open until Thursday 8 September.