Rural Services Network and Institute of Economic Development work together to support rural
The Rural Services Network and the Institute of Economic Development, a member of the Rural Services Partnership, have joined forces to work together on a piece of work designed to support the rural economy in the coming months Nadine Trout, who joined the RSN in February this year, has a vast range of experience working […]
Public health directors urge delay to lockdown easing amid test and trace confusion
Significant concerns are being raised by directors of public health and other leading sector figures that the lockdown is being eased too quickly, as confusion remains over how the test and trace system will work The Association of Directors of Public Health is calling on the government to delay easing lockdown until the tracing system […]
Tough new rules to lock down whole towns to rapidly isolate new COVID-19 sufferers
The Sun warns that some towns could face isolated lockdown measures if there are regional flare-ups, as Boris Johnson announced the Government’s crucial new ‘track and trace’ programme this week Parts of towns, individual schools, businesses or workplaces may be closed according to Communities SecretaryRobert Jenrick, who explained that the system will work ‘on a […]
Financial Times reflects sentiment that increasing numbers of city-dwellers are now considering a move to the countryside due to the pandemic
An opinion editorial in the Financial Times this week confirms the growing number of urban residents that are now considering living in the countryside as lockdown has forced the country into working from home The author writes that ‘as the world navigates a tragic global health crisis, a funereal quiet has stripped many cities of […]
Issues raised at the 29th May meeting of the Rural Impacts Stakeholder Forum (RISF)
The Rural Impacts Stakeholder Forum (RISF) was established in March 2020 to enable open and regular dialogue between key rural stakeholder organisations and Defra on the impact of COVID-19 on rural communities and businesses. Members of the Forum meet with Defra officials on a weekly basis, with Lord Gardiner, the Minister for Rural Affairs and […]
UK Shared Prosperity Fund must replace lost EU rural funding
Farming Life has called for urgent progress to be made on the UK Shared Prosperity Fund to replace EU funding that will be lost due to Brexit Programmes like the EU Rural Development Programme (RDP) currently have a huge impact on rural communities, funding the creation of small businesses and the development of vital community […]
The Prince’s Countryside Fund awards emergency grants to rural communities
Writing for the Countryside Alliance website, Baroness Mallalieu the Countryside Alliance President, argues that the Government should open campsites, cottages, cafes and pubs with outdoor gardens, and all national park car parks to spread visitors across the countryside rather than concentrating them at select ‘honey pot’ sites She echoes the Countryside Alliance’s belief that tourism […]
Local communities could run rural railway lines
The Yorkshire Post has published an article by politician, activist and author Paul Salveson, in which he argues that the crisis has posed huge challenges for the transport sector as a whole and for the more peripheral parts of the rail network in particular The paper reports that passengers have disappeared and some lines serving […]
Defra food vulnerability update
Below is is this week’s update on Defra’s work on food for vulnerable people: Food boxes We have now delivered more than 2 million boxes of food We have sent out a revised letter with all food boxes including information on how to ask for help from an NHS volunteer responder We completed the first […]
COVID-19 – Rural Communities Pulling Together (Week 8)
We asked for examples of our rural communities pulling together and have been inundated with responses so far! We featured 10 each week, and this week are pleased to feature 10 more this week! We have been heartened to read stories from our rural communities, showing that despite the incredible situation we are living in, […]
