Help shape rural business growth decision-making platform
People working in economic development and regeneration are being invited to help shape a new practical analytics platform designed to guide rural business policy. The Rural Enterprise Support Analytics (RESA) tool focuses on rates of business start-up, growth, and survival to enable local and regional policymakers to better understand and benchmark their area to inform […]
Combating Rural Loneliness: How Homeshare Can Make a Difference
Rural loneliness is a significant issue that affects many people living in our countryside. According to Age UK, more than 2 million people in England over the age of 75 live alone and over half say they go over a month without speaking to a friend, neighbour or family member. It can have a profound […]
National Park to receive £441k funding boost for moorland conservation work
The Peak District National Park is to receive a Government grant of £441,070 to help conserve habitats and wildlife on the Warslow Moors Estate. The Countryside Stewardship grant from the Rural Payments Agency will enable the National Park to carry out conservation work, including planting sphagnum moss and enhancing habitats, such as blanket bog, on […]
Latest News from the Broadcast 2040+ Campaign
The campaign has had an exciting start to 2024. We’ve mainly focused on engagement with the government’s Media Bill, which saw its Report Stage occur on the 30th January. We worked closely with a number of MPs to raise our case in Parliament as part of the Bill’s progress. or many members of the coalition, […]
Geographical narcissism. Urbansplaining.
Geographical narcissism. Urbansplaining. These are terms for when people in cities tell people in rural areas what is good for them – and we need to stop doing that. Those were the words of BMA Scotland chair Dr Iain Kennedy speaking to the Health, Social Care and Sport Committee in December during its inquiry into […]
The National Federation of Subpostmasters (NFSP), Driver Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) and Post Office Ltd (PO) sign contract extension
The National Federation of Subpostmasters (NFSP) is delighted that Driver Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) and Post Office Ltd (PO) have signed an extension to their contract. Vital services such as the DVLA need to remain within the post office network, and we have to thank everybody who has helped this decision come to fruition. More […]
Small grants made available to village halls in England
Defra funded grant scheme reopens for those managing rural community buildings, this time with a lower award threshold of £2, 000 to support smaller projects and make it accessible to more groups. In 2023, a £3 million village halls fund was launched to provide support for the modernisation and improvement of village halls in England. […]
Benefits of rural life
One of our members from Plymouth University has signposted a funding opportunity from the European Commission via the Horizon Europe Programme. Funding is available to look at “Societal perceptions and benefits of rural life and jobs: will COVID 19 generate a long-lasting shift?” The closing date for applications is 22 February 2024. For full details […]
National Rural Mental Health Forum Examining Gender Based Violence
The National Rural Mental Health Forum, run by the mental health charity Change Mental Health, continues its online seminars tackling some of the pressing issues in rural communities. On the 28th of February at 11am, the Forum shall hear from Robert Gordon University on the prevalence of gender-based violence in remote, rural and island communities. […]
The Patients Association manifesto: Patients can’t wait
The Patients Association exists to ensure everybody can access and benefit from the health and care services they need to live well. Services must be designed and delivered through equal partnership with patients to achieve this objective. Mounting pressures in the NHS over recent years have put the relationship patients have with the services they […]
