Category: Society

A big thank you to David and Nina for their presentation to the College of Social Science.  Covering demographic change, migration patterns, the emergence of retirement settlements, concerns about the “hollowing out” of some communities but also the enterprising opportunities in others, they treated us to a most stimulating event.  The ageing of populations is unlikely to slow down any time soon, and has a greater impact in rural areas where the rate of ageing is greater and the the provision of services is more costly.  Addressing key issues around ageing in Lincolnshire, we can apply some of this thinking to explore how greater entreprenurial activity can be stimulated by utilising the valuable human capital  attached to older residents, responding to their demands with new goods and services and finding ways to retain more younger people in rural communities.

Professor David Brown and Dr Nina Glasgow from Cornell University will be giving a seminar at the University of Lincoln on 12th February about their work on ageing communities in the US. David is an economic sociologist and demographer while Nina is a also a gerontologist so I am sure that we can learn a lot about the issues and research opportunities that exist here in the UK. Their profiles can be viewed here:

http://devsoc.cals.cornell.edu/people/david-brown

http://devsoc.cals.cornell.edu/people/nina-glasgow

Tea and coffee will be served outside the Book and Latte from 5.30pm with the event to start at 6pm in the Moot Court on the first floor of the Business School.  The event is open to all University members and associates but  I would appreciate an email to confirm your place.

Gary

A new initiative has been set up by a collaboration of the different denominations of churches in the Peak district to promote the churches’ roles in supporting rural communities.  In many very small settlements, the church is the last remaining community building and it offers the potential for a range of innovative uses.  If the church or chapel is better used, this can also help fundraising to maintain the fabric of these historic buildings as well as to promote community cohesion. The University of Lincoln will be working with the project leader, Revd Simon Lumby over the course of the next year to assist the project which, if successful in Derbyshire, will be rolled out across the UK.

More details can be found on their website: http://www.faithinthepeak.org.uk/