Optimism of young people in the Outer Hebrides takes a hit due to Covid-19

The Rural Youth Project’s Qualitative Report, which includes the results of a 2020 Covid-19 survey, shows that young people have become less optimistic during lockdown due to the amplifying of issues such as isolation and loneliness.

The Qualitative Report’s aim is to inform communities and key decision makers about how the pandemic has impacted the lives of young people and compounding some of the issues they face living in a rural area.

Alana Black, project and communications officer for the Rural Youth Project, said: “The lives of young people in rural areas are rich and vibrant. Our young people are resourceful, tenacious and willing to tackle the challenges they face head on – but they need the right support.

“For two years we’ve been listening to the voices of the under-30s living rurally and their issues of transport, housing, employment, building support, rural learning skills and education, connectivity, community and society, representation, intergenerational relationships and rural resilience are all examined in the Qualitative Report, alongside the results of the Covid-19 survey.

“Although the optimism of young people has nearly halved since lockdown, through our research we’ve found a strong underlying desire to stay in rural places.

“It has cemented our view that we need to listen more, to support more and to encourage young people to reimagine rural places.”

Alana also noted that the report will be an important learning tool for young people and rural communities.

“We wanted this report to be a catalyst for knowledge exchange between young people, older leaders and communities who want re-think what ‘rural’ looks like,” she said.

“Throughout the process we’ve taken the anonymous sentiments from respondents and provided context to their challenges through in-depth case studies with young people, but also highlighted the strategies and solutions they have employed to build their lives and futures in rural areas.”

One of the case studies featuring in the Qualitative Report is Eilidh Carr, from Coralbox Gift Shop, located on Berneray.

Although faced with issues such as enterprise support, transport and housing, Eilidh moved home at the age of 23 to the island, and launched her business, a small independent craft shop where she sells her own photography products, as well as other local makers’ creations.

Eilidh highlighted that when establishing her business, funding was not available to her. Fortunately, she was able to find the money to invest but recognised that others may not have this opportunity.

She said: “I would love to see more funding opportunities and enterprise support to encourage young people to get their businesses off the ground.”

During the coronavirus pandemic, Eilidh has adapted her business by moving sales online and meeting the uncertain time with positivity with a new venture launched in April where webcams at her shop livestream the shoreline of Bays Loch 24 hours a day.

“It’s been a very good way of virtually ‘bringing’ people to the island,” she said. “Since April, we’ve had over 22,000 visits to the site from 35 different countries.”

Through its new Smart Village, Young Rural Change Makers Programme and other online activities, the Rural Youth project aims to reach out to all areas of Scotland and enable all young people to participate and become the next generation of rural leaders.