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Visit RSN Survey about life in rural England to find out more.
A new pamphlet, Rural Futures: The British Countryside and its Potential, has been published by the Fabian Society and The Countryside Charity (CPRE). Launched during the recent Labour Party Conference, it brings together contributions from parliamentarians, policy specialists, and sector...
A network of independent advisors working to tackle England’s rural housing crisis has paved the way for potentially more than 2,000 affordable homes to be built across the country. Action with Communities in Rural England (ACRE), in partnership with 34...
The Northern Powergrid Foundation is inviting applications for grants to help village groups and community organisations become more energy resilient. The deadline for applications is Sunday 13 October 2025. Grants are particularly focused on projects that install Low Carbon Technologies...
Rural households are being encouraged to take part in important new research from Rural England CIC, working with the University of Leicester, on how people in rural areas experience and manage their energy and water use. The short online questionnaire...
A new report has warned that deprivation in Cornwall’s rural communities is being overlooked because government measures fail to capture the reality of rural life. The Pretty Poverty Report: Cornwall Rurality Matters, published by the Diocese of Truro and Plymouth...
A new report commissioned by Rural England CIC and the National Innovation Centre for Rural Enterprise (NICRE), and undertaken by the Countryside and Community Research Institute (CCRI), reveals the significant barriers facing rural households in the transition to low-carbon heating...
The RSN has joined over thirty leading organisations from across planning, housing, nature, and energy to sign a joint letter to Housing and Planning Minister Matthew Pennycook, calling for £6.8 million in urgent funding to support Planning Schools to continue...
The Government has announced a new Pride in Place programme, which will hand local communities new powers and funding to revitalise high streets, public spaces, and community assets. The initiative forms part of the Government’s Plan for Change and represents...
A new report from Citizens Advice Stroud & Cotswold Districts has exposed the extent of child poverty in areas often perceived as affluent. Child Poverty: Local Evidence – National Action (August 2025) reveals that one in five children across the...
The Rural Services Network’s Delivering for All survey is now live – and we want to hear from you. If you live in a village, small town, hamlet or isolated rural area, please take just 8–10 minutes to share your...
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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.
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