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The Final Local Government Finance Settlement is now confirmed. Our updated analysis examines the implications for rural areas. Read more.
Rising heating oil costs highlighted in last week’s Rural Bulletin have continued to draw attention in Westminster, as ministers step up scrutiny of fuel pricing amid volatility linked to tensions in the Middle East. The Government has announced more than...
Essex Police has launched an innovative initiative to help tackle rural crime by installing solar-powered trail cameras in crime hotspots across the county. Funded through money seized from criminals under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002, the cameras are being...
The Government has published its new Child Poverty Strategy, setting out measures it says will lift around 550,000 children out of poverty by the end of this Parliament. The strategy outlines plans to reduce living costs for families, increase childcare...
Tens of thousands of pensioners and children will be forced through their doors this Christmas. New figures from Trussell reveal a sharp rise in the need for winter food parcels compared to five years ago. Food banks in the...
MPs met in Westminster Hall last week to debate whether current funding is adequate to support people experiencing homelessness. Opening the debate, Bob Blackman MP highlighted that homelessness is continuing to rise across England, with Crisis estimating that 300,000 individuals...
New analysis from the Local Government Association (LGA) reveals that councils in England are facing a cumulative £3 billion shortfall in temporary accommodation funding between 2017/18 and 2029/30, a gap the organisation says is pushing local government finances to breaking...
Rural connectivity featured prominently in Parliament last week, with concerns raised both during departmental Oral Answers to Questions and later at Prime Minister’s Questions. During Science, Innovation and Technology questions, MPs pressed the Minister for Digital Government and Data on...
The NHS Confederation’s State of Integrated Care Systems 2024/25: Delivering Through Change report sets out a candid picture of England’s 42 ICSs under sustained strain. It finds systems are “operating under unprecedented demand, constrained resources and uncertainty about future funding...
New digital technologies will enable more NHS patients to receive care from home, under a national rollout announced last week. Dozens of areas in England are introducing remote-monitoring tools through the NHS App, allowing patients to share updates such as...
New research commissioned by Health Equals has revealed that 15 million people in the UK live in homes with issues like damp, mould or cold. Those from low-income households, renters and the West Midlands and Yorkshire and the Humber...
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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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