New research merely underpins what a lot of people have been saying for years.

Many rural communities are being let down says research.

A study of people living in Harris, East Perthshire in Scotland and Northumberland in England, found that much work available in rural communities is not ‘good work’, with incomes often volatile and irregular.

It also found the welfare system is not well adapted to rural lives, and there are barriers to entering self-employment and developing rural small businesses.

The study was carried out by Scotland’s Rural College (SRUC) in partnership with the University of Newcastle and the Impact Hub Inverness between October 2019 and September 2020 – both before and during the coronavirus pandemic.

Benefits system for rural areas isn't well set up, especially in the crofting communities

Although there is potential for new rural enterprise, the researchers found there are now fewer jobs in land-based activities and manufacturing in rural areas, with most people employed in services such as health, education, tourism and retail.

While some residents commute - or tele-commute – to well-paid, secure professional jobs, much local employment is precarious, low-paid or seasonal, with volatile and unpredictable incomes creating financial vulnerability.

However, despite many people relying on support from the state, including welfare and pensions, the benefits system is unable to deal fairly with the volatility and irregularity of rural incomes, increasing the vulnerability of those living in rural areas to poverty.

The centralisation and digitalisation of the welfare system in recent years has created further difficulties, with poor broadband and mobile coverage, and loss of public transport, in many rural areas.

The researchers also found that the centralisation or reduction of other services such as education, health, social care and housing has exacerbated many of these issues. As a result, greater importance is now placed on the cash-strapped voluntary sector in providing support and advice.

Lead researcher Professor Mark Shucksmith, from Newcastle University, said: “There is poverty in rural as well as urban Britain that national policymakers are not addressing adequately.

“This research highlighted that the support and advice offered by voluntary and community organisations is valued by, and invaluable to, those in rural areas experiencing or at risk of financial hardship and are most people’s first port of call - and sometimes their sole source of support. We found many examples of innovative practices involving voluntary and community organisations and local partnership working.

“Policies could be improved with the benefit of local place-based knowledge that exists among these organisations. There is a real opportunity for rural proofing of policy but it’s crucial that this involves rural stakeholders who have this local understanding.”

Dr Jayne Glass, from the Rural Policy Centre at SRUC, said: “The report sets out a range of policy interventions that could address the challenges identified in the research.

For more information on the research, visit: www.rurallives.co.uk