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There's all too little data available on rural experiences of loneliness and social connection. A quick thread with questions...
This new data from @EdinburghUni is a useful indicator of the unique challenges faced by rural and very rural communities 1/8 https://www.ed.ac.uk/news/2021/young-adults-the-loneliest-in-rural-scotland
This new data from @EdinburghUni is a useful indicator of the unique challenges faced by rural and very rural communities 1/8 https://www.ed.ac.uk/news/2021/young-adults-the-loneliest-in-rural-scotland
Despite rural communities being spared high infection rates & number of deaths seen in urban areas during the first wave, @EdinburghUni's research shows that they have been impacted in terms of social isolation & connecting with others be it online or in their own community 2/8
. @EdinburghUni found 8% of all rural Scots feel lonely most/all of the time. Broken down by age reveals some startling generational differences (reflective of @ONS national data):
32% of 18-29 yr olds feel lonely most/all of the time. 3% of those 70-79 yrs would say the same 3/8
32% of 18-29 yr olds feel lonely most/all of the time. 3% of those 70-79 yrs would say the same 3/8
. @EdinburghUni found (of course) that internet connectivity is an issue for many looking to stay connected...
67% of rural Scots say that high-speed broadband is very important for keeping in touch with friends and family yet 19% report poor or very poor connections. 4/8
67% of rural Scots say that high-speed broadband is very important for keeping in touch with friends and family yet 19% report poor or very poor connections. 4/8
And of course transport came up too. . @EdinburghUni found that in rural and isolated locations, public transport has always been considered a lifeline by millions. Unsurprisingly 24% of Scots have used it in the last year, down from 76% prior to the pandemic. 5/8
The @countrysidefund revealed in their Recharging Rural Report last year that across all 4 UK nations communities are suffering from: 'hidden loneliness' with people reporting feeling disconnected from people outside their own household https://www.princescountrysidefund.org.uk/downloads/research/recharging-rural-full-report-final.pdf 6/8
As one participant in @countrysidefund's report said: "loneliness is the worst thing". And yet it seems that those who work, live, organise and deliver services in rural areas are all too often up against prevailing stereotypes that rural communities are well connected idylls 7/8
I'd love to hear if others agree...
And what other research, data and knowledge (particularly recent) is out there that illuminates rural experiences of social isolation, loneliness and also experiences of social connection and community. 8/8
And what other research, data and knowledge (particularly recent) is out there that illuminates rural experiences of social isolation, loneliness and also experiences of social connection and community. 8/8
@H_E_Johnson @Annie_Osb @ACRE_national @PlunkettFoundat @national_crhx @edencommunities @HLCOVID19Com @WhatWorksWB @Daisy_Fancourt @NetworkMARCH @NetwrkWellbeing @LandworkersUK @nfum @NFUtweets
