Scottish Rural Action unveils plan to build grassroots network of campaigners

An army of community campaigners is set to champion rural issues in Scotland.

Scottish Rural Action is recruiting people from across the country in a bid to create a grassroots network of volunteers who will campaign on local issues affecting their communities.

Applicants will receive professional training in running campaigns and workshops, supported every step of the way by the charity, the Voluntary Action Fund and the Scottish Rural Network.

They will also be invited to attend the Scottish Rural Parliament in Brechin, where they will help Scottish Rural Action draw up its action plan for the next two years.

Becoming a volunteer is a fantastic opportunity to get the training and support to help you organise your community

Gary Dunion, volunteer coordinator for the charity, 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.”

Dunion said the charity was looking for volunteers from every corner of rural Scotland, and was especially keen to hear from elderly people, people who are already active in their communities and people from less-advantaged backgrounds.

Anyone interested in volunteering can register on the Scottish Rural Parliament website. Applications are open until Thursday 8 September.