Transcript Scottish Borders Rural Network Event 2010

Scottish Borders
Rural Network Event 2010
Making New Connections
Bryan McGrath
Head of Economic Development & Regeneration
Scottish Borders Council
16 February 2010
Rural Network Event 2010
• Welcome to Springwood Park, Kelso
• ‘Housekeeping’
• Format for the day
– National Rural Network update
– Rural funding updates
– Project presentations
– Facilitated discussion session and Feedback
• Chances to ask questions and input
Aims for the Day
• Update you on the Scottish National Rural
Network (SNRN)
• Look at what rural funding opportunities
are available
• Hear experiences from some interesting
projects
• Have a chance to discuss issues and
develop ideas with different people
Context
• Global Recession
• Local impacts
• Everyone affected - businesses, families,
communities
• Need to look to the future
• Need to work together to develop solutions
and put them in place
• Big changes will keep on coming
Coming soon….
• Post 2013 Common Agriculture Policy
Reform
• Common Fisheries Policy changes
• Public sector spending reductions
• How can we be best placed - as
businesses and communities - to deal with
the challenges?
Networking
• Key theme for today
• Learning from each other – with a spirit of
‘giving’ as well as ‘receiving’
• Transferring good practice and good ideas
• Build on the lessons learned from rural
areas across Scotland, UK, EU
Networking – The Benefits
• Learn from other’s mistakes – avoid
having to make them yourself
• Find good ideas – that you can turn into
great ideas
• Get a different perspective on your local
problems and issues
• New horizons – get beyond your locality
Rural Networks in the Borders
• A Working Countryside Group – a mix of
rural interests and perspectives
• SRDP RPAC – joining up the Govt.
agencies
• Scottish Borders LEADER 2007-13 –
focus on innovation, new approaches
• Established networks / new networks
• Listening, Learning, Understanding
Current Issues
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Access – walking/cycling/riding/canoeing
Affordable Rural Housing
Biodiversity
Branding and Marketing
Climate Change
Cohesive and Inclusive Communities
Culture
Demographic Change
Economic Development and Enterprise
More Issues
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Employment
Health
Recreation and Sport
Landscape and Environmental
Management
Lifelong Learning and Rural Skills
Rural Services
Rural Transport
Young People
Responding to Issues
• Lots of issues…..
• Challenge of:– Competing priorities
– Conflicting priorities
• Work together to address the issues ideas/projects/methods
Today’s ‘Tone’
• ‘Making new connections’
• Use coffee and lunch breaks to Network
• Sharing information / good ideas / good
practices
• Listen out for new / different perspectives
• Relaxed, positive engagement