Latest News
01 Jun 2020
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...
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26 May 2020
The Rural Housing Alliance have written to the Secretary of State for Housing to offer support
The Rural Housing Alliance (RHA), which works in partnership with the Rural Services Network and National Housing Federation, is a group of leading housing associations that develop and manage affordable...
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26 May 2020
RSN asks Government for local approach to track and trace
The Rural Services Network, along with other members of the Rural Coalition, a grouping of organisations representing rural areas has written to Rt Hon Matt Hancock, the Secretary of State...
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26 May 2020
Issues raised at the latest 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...
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26 May 2020
The Plunkett Foundation write to Local Authority Leaders
The Plunkett Foundation (alonside other organisations) has written to Local Authority Leaders to highlight the importance of local social enterprises, co-operatives and community businesses to their local area Local Authorities...
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26 May 2020
Study suggests increase in employment in rural areas despite lockdown
Several outlets, including the BBC and the Independent, report on a study showing that some rural parts of the UK have seen a surge in job adverts posted, despite the...
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26 May 2020
Defra grant to food charities update
On Monday 11th May, the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) launched a Food Charities Grant Fund. If you run a front-line not-for-profit or charity that provides food,...
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26 May 2020
Coronavirus Community Support Fund
The Government’s new Coronavirus Community Support Fund, administered by the National Lottery is open for applications (as of 10am on Friday 22nd May). This makes available £200m in Government funding...
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26 May 2020
COVID-19: Extra bank holiday for October being considered
The BBC covers news that the Government is considering introducing an extra bank holiday in October around the time of half-term. Patricia Yates, acting head of the UK’s tourism agency,...
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26 May 2020
£3.8 million rural economy innovation centre set to launch
The North East Times Magazine, Insider Media and Bdaily report that a new national innovation centre set to support the UK’s rural economy will launch in the North East later...
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