The latest meeting of Rural Visions focused on rural socio-economic challenges and sought to identify the key research questions that could help to address these. A central theme to the conversation was rural isolation and loneliness – not unique to rural areas – but a growing concern with rising rates of rural homelessness and ageing rural populations.
Dr Wesley Key discussed his research into the “older old” in rural areas whose service needs become harder to meet. Fen Kipley highlighted the specific challenges of creating cohesive communities in villages on former military bases in rural areas and Dr Gary Bosworth identified the growing penetration of digital technologies as a further threat to the sociability of village communities for those who are off-line.
More positively, we learned of a number of new projects that involve members of Rural Visions. Prof. Carenza Lewis described how heritage-based initiatives not only provide a valuable social outlet but they also address a topic that interests older people and enable them to share their knowledge in spaces where it is most valued. Dr Jennifer Jackson also described the successes that she has seen through her involvement in the Lottery-funded TED programme in Lincolnshire which simply provides opportunities for older people to get together and Talk, Eat and Drink.
Two questions will be examined further by members of the group with emerging research proposals to be presented at a future Rural Visions meeting. These are: (i) To what extent are rural communities becoming less cohesive, and how does this impact on certain groups of rural society. This will begin by revisiting the work of Tonnies and rethinking its relevance for the 21st century along with the perpetuating representation of community-spirited rural places. (ii) How should we define and understand isolation and what can be done to alleviate rural isolation? This may include new mobility technologies but also social innovations and community-led initiatives as well as the different types of community spaces or “third places” (Oldenburg) that can strengthen rural community cohesion. As Rural Visions develops, these are questions that will continue to bring us together in our quest to improve contemporary rural lives.