T: 01822 851370 E: [email protected]
Bookings are now officially open for the National Rural Conference 2025, which will take place online from Monday 15 to Thursday 18 September.
This is the Rural Services Network’s flagship event of the year, bringing together rural decision-makers, practitioners, and advocates for four days of live, interactive sessions focused on the future of rural communities.
Click here to book!
News
The Rural Services Network (RSN) is leading a proactive response to the Government’s Fair Funding Review consultation, calling for urgent action to end the funding inequalities that continue to disadvantage rural communities — and to unlock their full potential as...
The Housing, Communities and Local Government Committee has issued a stark warning that the current local government funding system is no longer sustainable – calling for urgent reform to protect vital services and local democracy. The Committee’s...
Digital Nation 2025 , the latest annual infographic from Good Things Foundation , paints a stark picture of ongoing digital exclusion across the UK. Using data from Ofcom, Age UK, Lloyds Bank, and its own delivery networks, the...
DEFRA has launched a consultation on proposed reforms to the WaterSure scheme, which supports low-income households in England with high essential water use by capping their water and sewerage bills. Originally expected to be part of a wider...
The Secretary of State for Education, Bridget Phillipson (Houghton and Sunderland South), recently delivered a statement to Parliament outlining the Government’s new Best Start in Life strategy. The plan sets out reforms to early years services and introduces...
A new report published by CPRE , titled Getting Solar Off the Ground , reveals that a significant proportion of England’s most productive farmland is now being used for large-scale solar energy generation. The research analyses the location...
Rural Affordable Housing & Planning Tuesday 16 September 2025 | 10:00 – 12:00 Part of the National Rural Conference 2025 Bookings now open for RSN members: View the full programme Affordable housing is one of...
Independent businesses in Stafford, Stone, and Eccleshall are invited to take part in the High Street Boost programme, delivered by Stafford Borough Council designed to help local traders thrive. Free launch events at The Post...
Evouchers recently worked with Action for Children – South Lakeland, Cumbria which is a charity with 372 services in communities across the UK, in schools and online. The charity work on the ground giving children and young people the protection...
Rural community businesses’ extraordinary impact was honoured at Plunkett UK’s annual awards, held at the start of July. Around 100 people gathered at the Royal Society of Chemistry in London for the 2025 Rural Community Business Awards, sponsored...
NEWSLETTER
Sign up to receive all our latest news and updates.
HOT TOPICS
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.
SIGN UP TO OUR NEWSLETTER
Sign up to our newsletter to receive all the latest news and updates.
Part of and working with:
