“Those living in rural areas often find it more difficult to access key services,” said Stacey. “The lack of rural bank and building society branches, the decline in village Post Offices and poor public transport links have meant that routine activities now take twice as long and require journeys twice as far.”
Participants will be asked to take part in a short interview and also to keep a diary after each time they access and use services such as banks, building societies and Post Offices. They will not be asked specific details regarding their personal financial situation.
Stacey added: “This is a chance for the people of South Holland to contribute to a study which will demonstrate whether financial services are essential for creating — and supporting — vibrant and sustainable rural communities.”
The study will last one month and participants will receive £20 as thanks and to compensate them for their time.
The findings of the research will contribute to policy debate around the provision of rural services.
Anyone interested in taking part can contact Stacey on 07707 195 906 or e-mail her at stacey.coppock@gmail.com for further information and details on how to get involved.
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Notes to editors: The University of Nottingham, described by The Sunday Times University Guide 2011 as ’the embodiment of the modern international university’, has award-winning campuses in the United Kingdom, China and Malaysia. It is ranked in the UK's Top 10 and the World's Top 75 universities by the Shanghai Jiao Tong (SJTU) and the QS World University Rankings. It was named ‘Europe’s greenest university’ in the UI GreenMetric World University Ranking, a league table of the world’s most environmentally-friendly higher education institutions, which ranked Nottingham second in the world overall.
The University is committed to providing a truly international education for its 40,000 students, producing world-leading research and benefiting the communities around its campuses in the UK and Asia.
More than 90 per cent of research at The University of Nottingham is of international quality, according to the most recent Research Assessment Exercise, with almost 60 per cent of all research defined as ‘world-leading’ or ‘internationally excellent’. Research Fortnight analysis of RAE 2008 ranked the University 7th in the UK by research power. The University’s vision is to be recognised around the world for its signature contributions, especially in global food security, energy & sustainability, and health.