Government is warned of threat to rural life as more young quit the countryside

The Government will be told today (Thursday 4 March) that the long-term future
of the countryside is in jeopardy because so many young people are being forced
out of rural areas to find homes, jobs and support.
The alert comes from Dr Stuart Burgess - the Government's Rural Advocate - based
on evidence he has gathered from communities in all parts of rural England about
the fears, aspirations, challenges and needs of young rural England.

In a report being delivered directly to the Prime Minister, Dr Burgess says:
"Wherever I go, I hear deep concerns - that challenges with housing, work,
transport, training and social exclusion are preventing young people from living
in the countryside. Without young people to provide a work force, rural
economies are unable to fulfil their full potential and rural communities can go
into a decline.

"On top of this, lack of broadband and mobile phone coverage in many rural areas
is hitting young people and businesses alike - be it through recruitment and
employment, better access to learning and support services or enjoying the
connectivity that has become an everyday feature of urban youth culture, such as
joining a social network or getting internet help with homework."

At the same time, the Commission for Rural Communities, which Dr Burgess chairs,
will publish a 'State of the countryside' update, setting out the statistical
facts of rural life for children and young people, including the current rate of
outward migration.

Dr Burgess points out: "My clear message is that challenges for rural young
people need addressing positively and urgently and that failure to act will put
the future viability of our rural communities at risk. It is essential to break
the cycle of low aspirations and, instead, inspire young people to fulfil their
potential and play an active role in our society. My personal commitment is to
seek ways of increasing the engagement of rural young people with these issues
which so clearly affect their futures and find ways of harnessing their
enthusiasm and creativity to find imaginative new solutions which will benefit
us all."

As well as calling on policymakers to demonstrate a better understanding of the
challenges facing rural young people, Dr Burgess's report puts forward practical
solutions, including:
flexible planning to create more affordable rural housing;
new ways to meet employment and training needs in more isolated areas;
greater efforts by schools and universities to raise young people's aspirations;
a renewed focus on providing integrated public transport; and
a push to improve mobile phone coverage and broadband services in rural areas.