Rhian Curtis, Engagement Officer at the Cymru Wledig LPIP Rural Wales writes about her organisation’s recent efforts highlighting the challenge of ‘lost youth’ in rural Wales to MPs in Westminster.
Aberystwyth University’s Professor Michael Woods shared insightful research during a series of meetings in January at Westminster regarding one of the most challenging issues affecting rural communities in Wales; the challenge of ‘lost youth‘. This trend of young people emigrating from Wales’ rural communities to larger cities, or leaving Wales altogether, has left a mark on many parts of the Welsh countryside, with increasingly ageing populations, shifting demographics and changing local resources (such as school closures and Welsh language implications).
Supported by the Wales Innovation Network, Professor Woods joined other researchers at the House of Commons in presenting this evidence before Members of Parliament and Lords from Wales and the rest of the UK. Attracting policy makers from across the political spectrum, Professor Woods highlighted the significance and impact of youth migration and its damage to Welsh communities, demonstrating how academic research and statistical data can be used by policy makers to bring about positive change.
MPs and Peers learned how youth out-migration has resulted in a marked shift in traditional community make-up. Professor Woods and his team surveyed over 1000 people from geographically diverse rural Welsh communities, discovering the main factors prompting them to leave, with factors such as further or higher education, lack of local employment in their chosen careers, and lack of affordable housing cited as key motivators. As a result, the report provides clear evidence for policy makers, local and national leaders to strongly consider the initiatives needed to retain rural youth.
Following the Westminster meetings, Members of Parliament Ann Davies of Carmarthen and Catherine Fookes of Monmouthshire have quoted the research in the national media and during a House of Commons debate, drawing further attention to this issue and placing it on the national agenda.
Professor Woods is currently also the Director of a new government-funded (UKRI) research project Cymru Wledig LPIP Rural Wales, which is developing a number of new research proposals exploring additional challenges facing rural Wales, and supplying guidance for policy-makers.
‘Rural Areas’ Lost Youth’ is a survey of 1054 young people in Rural Wales, aged between 16-24, undertaken in 2021 and conducted as part of the HORIZON 2020 Robust project. The research was presented at Westminster during Evidence Week, collaborating with the organisation Sense About Science.
This blog was written by Rhian Curtis, Engagement Officer, Cymru Wledig LPIP Rural Wales.
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The views expressed in this analysis post are those of the author and not necessarily those of City-REDI or the University of Birmingham.