THE RURAL Youth Project has been ‘Highly Commended’ for its efforts in inspiring and developing the next generation of rural leaders, at the 2019 Scottish Land and Estate’s ‘Helping It Happen’ awards.

Launched back in January 2018, the Rural Youth Project has already made a huge impact on supporting rural youth across Scotland and recently secured LEADER funding investment from five areas within Scotland for nearly £200,000.

Rural Youth Project Co-Founder and Director, Rebecca Dawes, said that the Helping It Happen awards play an important role in recognising business and community organisations that make real and significant contributions across rural Scotland: “It was incredibly inspiring to be surrounded by businesses and community groups with the same purpose and passion to ensure Scotland’s rural places thrive. Our mission is for the betterment of rural young people’s lives and it’s amazing for the team to have our dedication and hard work recognised by Scottish Land and Estates’ Awards.”

The awards were held at the Sheraton Hotel in Edinburgh on Wednesday, October 2 and welcomed over 200 industry leaders, business owners and charitable organisations to celebrate the rich and diverse contributions they make, to help Scotland’s rural communities thrive.

The CEO of the Royal Highland and Agricultural Society of Scotland Alan Laidlaw was one of the judges for the awards and said that the Rural Youth Project is a great example of an innovative grassroots movement: “Even in its infancy, the Rural Youth Project has demonstrated an ability to energise a demographic that rural communities have traditionally struggled to engage with – our young people,” said Mr Laidlaw. “Although their application didn’t specifically fit the existing award categories, it was clear the work that the Rural Youth Project is doing to develop and empower the next generation couldn’t go un-noticed.”