31 Dec 2022
December 2022
A coalition of groups – including Silver Voices, the Children’s Media Foundation, the Rural Services Network and the Voice of the Listener and Viewer – is urging the Government to safeguard broadcast services
The Mirror – Campaigners urge Government to fight for traditional TV and radio signals
Advanced Television – Poll: UK adults want FTA broadcasting protected
Cornwall Live – Some Cornwall residents could lose all their Freeview TV channels
November 2022
Graham Biggs, Chief Executive of the Rural Services Network, was interviewed by BBC Breakfast about the importance of village halls in rural areas and concerns over rising costs.
rsnonline – 1,000 village halls face closure as fuel bills soar
Speaking to The MJ, Graham Biggs, chief executive of the Rural Services Network, said he feared many discretionary services in rural areas could be lost if the Treasury announces fresh austerity measures in the Autumn Statement without acknowledging its initial plan to improve rural finances eight years ago
The MJ – Rural services ‘may be lost’ without funding formula
rsnonline – Rural services ‘may be lost’ without funding formula
October 2022
BBC News – ‘You think twice about driving’: Fuel prices rise again
East Anglian Daily Times – Call to give Suffolk £3.7billion for better transport, internet and affordable homes
September 2022
Following the release of the the report ‘Rural cost of living’ the Rural Services Network have been featured in the following media articles:
National:
BBC News – Rural areas hit harder by cost-of-living crisis, study finds
Daily Express – Energy crisis horror as poorest Britons to fork out half of disposable income on bills
Government Business – Cost-of-living crisis worse in rural areas
Farming UK – Rural communities face ‘triple blow’ in cost-of-living crisis
Regional and Trade:
Lancashire Times – Report Reveals Triple Blow Pushes Rural Communities Into A Cost-Of-Living Emergency
Cumbria Times – Report Reveals Triple Blow Pushes Rural Communities Into A Cost-Of-Living Emergency
The Yorkshire Times – Report Reveals Triple Blow Pushes Rural Communities Into A Cost-Of-Living Emergency
North East Post – Report Reveals Triple Blow Pushes Rural Communities Into A Cost-Of-Living Emergency
News and Star – Rural Services Network study shows rural areas are being hit harder during cost-of-living crisis
Whitehaven News – Rural communities being hit harder during cost-of-living crisis
newsquest.co.uk – Rural communities being hit harder during cost-of-living crisis (link expired)
West Cumberland Times and Star – Rural Services Network study shows rural areas are being hit harder during cost-of-living crisis
Lancashire Telegraph – Burnley MP urges locals to nominate businesses for Countryside Alliance Awards
Shropshire Star – Rural areas get no help in mini-budget despite higher cost of living, says Shropshire MP (link expired)
East Anglian Daily Times – Rural areas ‘harder hit’ by cost-of-living crisis, new report suggests
Hexham Courant – Rural areas hit harder by cost of living crisis, study finds
New Start Magazine – Rural communities are facing higher transport and household energy poverty
Tech Register – Energy crisis horror as poorest Britons to fork out half of disposable income on bills (link expired)
Head Topics UK – Rural areas get no help in mini-budget despite higher cost of living, says Shropshire MP
Business Magazine 24 – Rural areas hit harder by cost-of-living crisis, study finds (link expired)
The report also featured heavily across several broadcast platforms:
- BBC Farming Today
- BBC Somerset Radio
- BBC Devon : 29th September, 05:40 UTC
- BBC Somerset : 28th September, 16:23 UTC
- BBC Manchester : 28th September, 18:00 UTC
- BBC Wiltshire : 28th September, 12:01 UTC
- BBC Cornwall : 28th September, 16:30 UTC
- BBC Gloucester : 28th September, 17:00 UTC.
- BBC Radio 4 : 24th September, 05:35 UTC
- BBC Radio 4 : 23rd September, 04:53 UTC
- BBC Northampton : 23rd September, 09:42 UTC
- BBC London News : 23rd September, 16:35 UTCBBC Tees : 22nd September, 15:31 UTC
- BBC Humberside : 22nd September, 14:42 UTC
- BBC Northampton : 22nd September, 14:00 UTC
- BBC 2 Radio : 22nd September, 13:51 UTC
- BBC Northampton : 22nd September, 12:00 UTC
- BBC Somerset : 22nd September, 08:01 UTC
- BBC Radio Surrey : 22nd September, 07:00 UTC
- BBC Jersey : 22nd September, 06:50 UTC
- BBC Leicester : 22nd September, 05:39 UTC
- BBC Somerset : 22nd September, 05:01 UTC
- BBC Radio Surrey : 22nd September, 04:59 UTC
The BBC have reported on the interim findings of research into Rural Homelessness, commissioned by a rural taskforce. The research is being carried out by University of Kent and the University of Southampton, and was commissioned by a group led by English Rural Housing Association and includes the Rural Services Network
BBC – Sleeping in barns – homeless in the countryside
July 2022
Business Cheshire – For too long businesses in rural communities have been discriminated against based on being digitally isolated – this has to end
June 2022
Following the release of the the report ‘Rural as a region: the hidden challenge for Levelling Up’ the Rural Services Network have been featured in the following media articles:
The Municipal Journal (MJ) – Levelling up ‘biased towards larger towns and cities’
Local Goverment Chronicle LGC) – Warning current levelling up approach risks worsening rural-urban divides
East Anglian Daily Times – Rural Suffolk should be top of the list for levelling up cash, report says
Yorkshire Times – ‘Hidden Region’: Rural England Forgotten In Government’s Levelling Up White Paper
Cumbria Times – ‘Hidden Region’: Rural England Forgotten In Government’s Levelling Up White Paper
North East Post – ‘Hidden Region’: Rural England Forgotten In Government’s Levelling Up White Paper
Lancashire Times – ‘Hidden Region’: Rural England Forgotten In Government’s Levelling Up White Paper
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Newsnight on 14th June highlighted the plight of rural communities struggling with the negative impact of the rising cost of fuel on rural communities:
Newsnight – Priced off the road
East Anglian Daily Times – MPs to champion EADT’s manifesto for rural communities in Westminster
Work Foundation – Accessing digital services in rural communities
Arqiva – Protect traditional TV & radio” say the British people as Broadcast 2040+ campaign launches
April 2022
The below article written by RSN Chair Cecilia Motley is features in Local Government First:
LG First – Will ‘levelling up’ deliver for rural areas?
February 2022
Cecilia Motley, Chair of Rural Services Network, discusses the historic underfunding found in rural areas and how ‘levelling up’ is further ignoring the issues. BBC Midlands Today (found at 4:08)
Kerry Booth, The RSN Deputy Chief Executive, features on the Association of Convenience Stores (ACS) ‘The Local Shop Podcast’ discussing the importance of rural shops and the vulnerability of people living in rural areas. This podcast can be found here
