Help 
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Rural Gateway?The Rural Gateway website shares news, views and information across Scotland's rural communities. It is a Scottish Government initiative designed and developed by online community experts Sift, with editorial and content services provided by the Rural Team at the Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations.
To find out more about the Rural Gateway visit our About Us and How to get involved sections.
Why should I register?
You can enjoy the site without being a member but to get the full benefits you'll need to register. Once you've registered you'll be able to subscribe to our popular and informative email newsletters and be sent regular news and updates. Register here.
How can I join the Members Directory?
Under Forum select Members Directory and then click the Join Members Directory link near the foot of the page. Complete the on-line membership form to become a full member of the Rural Community Gateway. You can enter as much information as you like. The Members Directory is a great place to network. For example, you can search for members who are interested in a particular rural issue.
What happens to the information I provide in the profile?
Information provided on the profile is only used within the site to make it more useful to you and to allow other members to look you up in the Directory, if you give permission. We don't provide information to third parties.
Can I keep my profile private?
Yes, if you want to - but we recommend joiing the Members Directory. You must give permission to appear in the Members Directory by checking the box within your profile area.
How do I contact other members?
Use the A to Z search in the Members Directory which you'll find in Forum.
How can I network with other people?
You can network with other members through the Members Directory.
The Rural Gateway's Rural Answers forum is also a good way to network with contacts in the rural community and swap ideas or discuss issues of interest to those living and working in rural Scotland.
How can I get involved with the Rural Gateway?
We want to encourage as much participation with the Rural Gateway as possible. There are lots of different ways of getting involved, from voting in our polls to becoming a regular contributor. You can find out more in our How to get involved section.
Where will I find information on funding?
You can find information on funding in our Funding Latest articles. To get the latest funding news delivered straight to your inbox, sign up for our funding newswire. If you have a funding query, you can visit our funding surgery.
Where can I subscribe to your email newsletters?
Go to My Gateway and subscribe to our Rural Update and/or Funding Latest newswires. You can also unsubscribe from the newsletters here. Please note, if you want to receive the newsletter in our newer, easier to read format, click to receive your newsletters in html format. You can find the archive of our Rural Update newsletters here.
How can I get events listed on the site?
You can post details of community events, conferences, training sessions and other events in our calendar. Click here for more details on how to get events listed. You can also tell us about exciting cultural and community events in our regular feature What's Going On?
How do I find a community website?
Go to Community websites to find hundreds of community links from across rural Scotland. Links are grouped under Local Authority areas.
Is there a news archive?
Yes. If you go to Information then News you will be able to see dozens of news stories from recent weeks. You can also use the Search facility to look for news items on a particular topic.