T: 01822 851370 E: [email protected]
A quarterly bulletin facilitated by your membership of the Rural Services Network and produced in partnership with the Rural Housing Alliance, highlighting a selection of current rural housing issues and opportunities Social Housing Green Paper – views sought...
The Financial Times reported on the possibilities for the British countryside post-Brexit. The article laments that the EU’s Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) used lucrative incentives to encourage British farmers to cultivate huge swathes of land, leaving the countryside bereft...
On Monday 15th, the Prime Minister launched a cross-Government strategy to tackle loneliness. As part of the plan GPs will be able to refer patients experiencing loneliness to community activities and voluntary services such as cooking lessons, walking groups...
The Guardian and The Independent reported that budget cuts in rural schools mean that many headteachers take on additional roles such as gardening, cleaning and driving the school minibus. More than four in 10 rural schools in England are...
The Care Quality Commission annual report has highlighted growing waiting lists, A&E delays and record dissatisfaction levels with GPs, according to the BBC. The patient group, National Voices, said the report should be a ‘loud alarm bell’ and that...
Young Somerset Young Somerset is the largest youth work charity in Somerset and their mission is to put young people first. Their aim is to work with young people, encouraging them to take responsibility for themselves and...
New figures from the Department of Transport show that the number of local bus journeys has fallen to a 12-year low, according to the Guardian. This fall coincides with a 55% increase in the average fare price. In addition,...
The Guardian reported on a study by the Social Market Foundation think tank and Kellogg’s, revealing that more than a million people in the UK live in “food deserts” – places where poverty, poor public transport and a dearth of...
PoliticsHome reported on a fringe event at the Conference organised by the CPRE and the National Housing Federation looking at the best way to increase the number of affordable homes in rural England. Neil O’Brien, MP for Harborough, highlighted...
The RSN Education and Skills Profile brings together key data to inform and contextualise a local authority areas particular situation. The analysis provides comparison to the authority class and to the rural classifications. The sheets are editable to allow narrative...
Sign up to receive all our latest news and updates.
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 to receive all the latest news and updates.