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Finding guidance and support as a young person can be a tricky task, made even more difficult for those living in rural areas – of which the South West has an abundance – where access to support is often thwarted...
We're looking forward to another busy year supporting all of our members . Our mission is to be the national champion for rural services, ensuring that people in rural areas have a strong voice. We are fighting for...
The Campaign for Better Transport (CBT) has published a report calling for a ‘planned network’ of rural transport to replace the ‘patchwork of different forms and types’ that currently exists, according to regional paper, Shropshire Star, and website, Engineering and...
The Times reports that schools in rural areas are now connecting pupils with tutors online in a bid to give them an equal chance of succeeding in school exams. Tutoring has traditionally been more prevalent in urban, affluent areas,...
Carole Walker, is a former political news correspondent with the BBC. She has developed her own Podcast called 'The View from Here' and has kindly allowed the Rural Services Network to include it on their website. Talking about...
The findings of an Access to Cash Review, funded by the ATM network Link, were widely covered in the press by national outlets such as the BBC and local papers like the Express and Star. Interim findings show that...
Ofcom has found that broadband speeds across the UK increased throughout 2018, with the number of homes and small businesses that cannot access a ‘decent’ connection halving, ComputerWeekly.com reported. A ‘decent’ connection is one that offers 10Mbps download and...
The BBC reported on the publication of Sir John Timpson’s High Street Report . The report noted that a combination of internet shopping and the convenience of ‘out of town’ retailing has increased the number of empty shops and...
New farming technology could be used to solve post-Brexit labour shortages but must be introduced carefully to avoid negative social impact, according to researchers from the University of East Anglia. Reuters reported on the research, noting that tasks such...
RSN response to Provisional Local Government Finance Settlement The Rural Services Network has long campaigned for fairer funding for rural areas and it today welcomed the additional £16million allocation to the Rural Services Delivery Grant by the Government in the...
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Amid reduced public spending, fair resource allocation across regions is crucial. Despite a population larger than Greater London, rural areas receive significantly less funding for essential services, even though delivering these services in rural areas is more expensive.
Economic growth is widely acknowledged as essential for national wealth and prosperity and is a priority for political parties. Rural economies, employing millions and home to a higher proportion of small businesses, have potential for growth if barriers are removed.
Rural residents face distinct healthcare challenges, including limited access to transport, longer distances to medical facilities, an aging demographic, housing inadequacies, digital connectivity gaps, and difficulties recruiting health and care workers.
Rural communities are grappling with a severe affordable housing crisis, marked by high house prices, a lack of affordable housing, elevated living costs, and lower incomes, threatening their sustainability and vitality.
Transport is vital for the quality of life and economic health of rural areas, yet it faces challenges such as infrequent public bus services and less Government funding compared to urban regions.
Rural areas, encompassing a substantial portion of England's population and land, play a pivotal role in combating climate change and achieving the net zero target.
In an increasingly digital world, the lack of robust digital infrastructure in rural areas severely limits access to crucial services and stifles economic growth.
A future-focused vision for rural communities involves not just building the right homes in the right places but also ensuring thriving, sustainable communities.
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