Rural Services Network - Rural Services Network

Opportunities Bulletin

A monthly bulletin setting out current funding opportunities and details of government consultations of interest to rural stakeholders.

Consultation Responses

A service providing a base consultation response from the rural service perspective on all the key consultations. The service allows authorities ease of response to these exercises by either using or amending the responses as they see fit.

E-Networks

We recognise that in these times of budget cuts, reductions in funding, and the pressure to find more efficient ways of working, officers need help and support from their peers more than ever.

Community Project Advice

Do you, or a local community group within your area, need help with a community development project?

Rural Housing Service

Rural Housing

Effective housing provision and housing services are critical to rural communities.

Health

This area includes news stories and information on the subject of health and working to overcome these particular challenges and in particular includes information on the RURAL HEALTH NETWORK.

Education

Transport

Ranging through petrol cost as a percentage of household budget, the lack of public and community transport in many areas; the threats to its survival in others.

The topic has never been bigger or more pressing.

Changes to the way public transport is subsidised make community-run initiatives increasingly important.

Latest updates:

 Minibus brokerage gets £220k lottery cash 18 May 2013
A vital rural minibus service in East Cleveland has plans for expansion after landing a £220,000 windfall (Evening Gazette)

New Bus service unveiled for Durham Heritage Coast 17 May 2013
A NEW bus service providing easy and free access to the dramatic east Durham coastline has been unveiled. (Northern Echo)

Speed limit campaigners seek minister's backing 17 May 2013
A local MP is backing residents' campaigns to get speed limits lowered through their villages. (Sleaford Standard)

Volunteers plea for rural ride service 12 May 2013
The need for volunteer drivers is so pressing that Test Valley Community Services has resorted to posting leaflets through letterboxes. (Andover Advertiser)

Community car scheme launched in Surrey 8 May 2013
Residents and businesses who need occasional access to a car can now use a new community car scheme. (Dorking Advertiser)

Broadband

Broadband speed - and indeed the lack of it - remains a big challenge for rural business and communities.

Fuel poverty

As fuel costs rise, fuel poverty is an increasing challenge - especially for rural communities.

A household is said to be in fuel poverty if it spends more than 10% of its income on fuel to keep occupants warm.

This is usually defined as 21C for the main living area and 18C for other occupied rooms.

Limited options for fuel in rural localities - many of which lack mains gas - make efficient fuel use and insulation particularly important for countryside communities.

In addition, rural residents face the challenges of lower average wages, an ageing population and single-skin properties.

The Rural Services Network believes the national picture must not be allowed mask this extra rural dimension.

Latest updates:

£6m renewable heat scheme unveiled 10 May 2013
The government has launched a £6m competition to get renewable heating kit into the homes of social tenants. (Investor Today)

Experts despair at coalition's fuel poverty pessimism 9 May 2013
The government's fuel poverty strategy is "going in the wrong direction" and will not succeed in ending fuel poverty by 2016, warn specialists. (politics.co.uk)

Councils help cut household energy bills by £10m 8 May 2013
More than 100,000 households have signed up to council-run collective switching schemes in the last year. (Local Government Association)

Wigton to be 'smart-grid' market town 8 May 2013
Wigton is being launched as a national 'smart-grid market town' – aiming to address fuel poverty and give energy consumers more say. (NW Evening Mail)

Award for fuel poverty aid scheme 7 May 2013
A project to stamp out fuel poverty and make homes warmer and safer has been voted runner-up in a national award scheme. (Swindon Advertiser)