Wickers can get £50 for helping with cost of living research

A £50 pound voucher is on offer to people from Wick and surroundings as an incentive to participate in a research study on rural living costs.

The Scottish Government have commissioned the research to help create a better understanding of the needs and costs experienced by people who live in rural and remote areas of Scotland. This research initiative is called Minimum Income Standard (MIS) for Remote and Rural Scotland and updates similar work which was commissioned in 2012 by Highlands and Islands Enterprise and partner organisations.

The project has now begun recruiting in Wick and surrounding villages, for participants from a variety of backgrounds and age groups. The research will be conducted by the Centre for Research is Social Policy (CRSP) team at the University of Loughborough working alongside two Highland based researchers.

Participation in the study will help in the understanding of the cost of living in rural Scotland. The research findings will be used by Scottish Government and other organisations to help make sure that people have enough to enable them to have an acceptable standard of living and to play a full part in today’s society.

The research will be carried with three local focus groups and involve a small number of people taking part in an informal discussion led by a professional researcher. Normally, these focus groups would be carried out at a local venue but due to Covid restrictions the groups will take place online using Zoom.

Participants do not need to be an "expert" in anything and will not be asked personal details. Involvement in the project is voluntary and discussions during the focus groups are strictly confidential. The researchers operate under strict ethical and legal codes, including those of the Data Protection Acts and the Social Research Association.

The dates for the focus groups are as follows:

• Working age people with no dependants – Monday, October 26 at 6.30pm – 9.30pm

• Pensioners – Tuesday, October 27 at 10am – 1pm

• Families – Thursday, October 29 at 6.30pm – 9.30pm

All participants who attend the focus groups will receive a £50 voucher from a selection of options to say thank you for their time.

If you would like to take part in this study or would like more information please contact Jo Ellen, MIS Scotland research assistant, on 07851 969871 or email misrrs.recruitment@gmail.com

Website information is also available at www.minimumincomestandard.org

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