Rural Wisdom is...
...the project that listens to the voices of older people and empowers them to lead change in rural communities across the UK.
Our achievements to date include
- Listening to over 3,200 older people in rural areas and embracing their ideas, big and small
- Helping new community groups get started and existing ones keep going
- Delivering over £370,000 of funding for local activities in a range of rural communities
- Contributing to policy making to ensure long-lasting national impact
- Bringing people together in a network of connected communities across the UK
Listening to older people
Rural Wisdom creates spaces for older people and others in rural communities to have a say. We complement and support all routes for people to contribute their views and ideas. We champion issues that matter to older people living in rural communities, even though they may not traditionally be thought of as older people’s issues.
Sharing learning
Rural Wisdom offers a space for people to hear about what is happening in other areas and learn from what other people find useful. We make connections and work with new and existing partners who are working on issues that matter to people living in rural areas. Rural Wisdom is a project that was specifically designed to evolve and grow and it continues to do so as we help people learn from and support each other within and between communities.
Supporting age friendly communities
Rural Wisdom helps people come up with practical solutions that make life easier for people in their community. We get new things started and support existing activities to adapt. We showcase the many ways in which older people contribute to their communities and help them find more ways to lead and support others to get involved.
Get in touch
If you have a story about a local initiative that started from a conversation with an older person, an intergenerational community event, or something that has had a positive impact for people living in rural spaces, we want to hear from you! Get in touch with our team via our contact form, on 0141 419 0451, or via email at hello@ruralwisdom.org.
Keep up with all things Rural Wisdom via our blog and by signing up to our newsletter.
The Scottish Government consultation on a #NationalCareService is an important chance for everyone to be heard.
We know many people find consultations long and complex. So our colleagues at Outside the Box have put together some ideas to help everyone take part!
Read the tips here: otbds.org/social-care-consultation/
otbds.org
The Scottish Government is consulting on a National Care Service and ways to improve social care. It's a chance for everyone to have a say.If you've missed any of our recent events, you can watch all our 'Conversation Starters' on YouTube.
So far we have this video on Fuel and Renewable Energy, a session on Men's Community Connections, and another with the Older People's Commissioner for Wales. Let us know if there's a topic you think we should have a Conversation Starter on! 💬
youtu.be/P-raSbLl5qc
Rural Wisdom Conversation Starter: Fuel Poverty and Renewable Energy
youtu.be
A recording of our guest speakers presentations at the Fuel Poverty and Renewable Energy webinar, April 2021.Rural Wisdom are hosting Conversation Starter se...If you'd like to learn more about what Support Choices have been doing to support communities in #Perth and #Kinross, you can read their story on SDS Scotland's website below!
www.sdsscotland.org.uk
Support Choices celebrates becoming an independent advice charity, empowering people in Perth and Kinross with information. Outside the Box started the project in 2019 to help older and disabled people and their families get the support they need to have a good life. Now Support Choices spreads its....Our sister project in Outside the Box - Support Choices - has succeeded in its development aim of becoming an independent, sustainable source of local advice and info.
In 2013 the Scottish Parliament made a law that gives people looking for social care more choices. But people in some – especially rural – areas were not getting advice or access to these choices. We love seeing local solutions to these issues, which build on the community's knowledge.
Good luck in all your future work Support Choices! We already miss seeing you in team meetings. 💜
If you're based around Perth and Kinross, and want to learn about how Support Choices can support you, take a look at their website: www.supportchoices.co.uk/We started Support Choices as an Outside the Box project in 2019, after working with groups in Highland Perthshire. There was a local gap around #SDS and #SocialCare advice and information - now there's a sustainable local solution!
We're delighted to announce Support Choices has now incorporated as an independent charity! After supporting the project's development this point, it's amazing to see Support Choices spread its wings. Here at Outside the Box we're already missing the SC team, but we can't wait to work closely alongside them in the future. 🥳🤩🎂
The #digitalbuddies project at OTB South East are sharing their experience of connecting older people with friends, family and the wider world using digital technology.
Their new 'Setting up a Digital Buddies Project– What we learned!' resource shares what they did and what they learned along the way.
Find out more and download your copy👇
Setting up a Digital Buddies project - What we Learned - Outside The Box
otbds.org
Our Setting up a Digital Buddies Project - What we learned shares our ideas, what we did and what we learned about setting up a digital project.