Rural Health & Care – Tackling Inequalities, Building Resilience

Rural Health & Care
Thursday 18 September 2025 | 10:00 – 12:00
Part of the National Rural Conference 2025
Bookings now open for RSN members: View the full programme

Access to health and care is fundamental to community wellbeing – yet in rural areas, geography, resources, and infrastructure often make this a bigger challenge. This year’s Rural Health & Care session at the National Rural Conference brings together leading voices from research, frontline services, and community initiatives to explore solutions that work.

From addressing healthcare inequalities and improving access, to tackling domestic abuse, enhancing mental health support, and strengthening rural hub towns, our panel will share insights and innovations from across the country.

Whether you work in health and social care, community development, policy, or service planning, this is an opportunity to learn from practice, ask questions, and take away ideas that can be adapted to your own local context.

Meet the Speakers:

	Dr Christina Dobson, Senior Research Associate, Newcastle University Christina presents findings from her research into rural residents’ experiences of health and wellbeing services – highlighting barriers to care and opportunities for change.
	Judith Vickress, Domestic Abuse Consultant and Churchill Fellow, The Churchill Fellowship Judith will share how rural communities can coordinate more effectively to prevent and respond to domestic abuse, based on international learning and survivor-led approaches.
	Dr Tim Sanders, Senior Clinical Lecturer in Rural Medicine, University of Central Lancashire, and Dr Chris Ford, Senior Lecturer in Accounting & Management, Lancaster University Together, Tim and Chris will draw on the Penrith case study to explore the vital role of rural hub towns in delivering accessible, integrated health services – and the economic, organisational, and community factors that make them thrive.
	Lisa Farley, Head of Mental Health and Wellbeing, Young Somerset Lisa will showcase Young Somerset’s early intervention model for children and young people’s mental health – ensuring the right support at the right time.

This session is one of eight themed events running from 15–18 September as part of our member-exclusive conference. It’s free to attend for all eligible RSN member organisations. Sessions take place online via Zoom and you can join as many or as few sessions as you like. Our sessions are not recorded – to be part of the discussion and benefit from the interactive format, you need to be there on the day.

Don’t miss this chance to hear from sector leaders, share your own perspective, and connect with others working to improve health and care in rural communities.

Book your place now and view the full programme