Access to services
01 Sep 2025
Government Expands Childcare and Holiday Support for Families
The Government has announced a major expansion of childcare support, set to save working parents up to £7,500 per year. From September, families with children aged 9 months up to...
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01 Sep 2025
New Study Exposes Experiences of Racism in Rural England
A study into racism in rural England has found many minority ethnic individuals and families feel the countryside is an unwelcoming and unsafe place to visit. The research, conducted by...
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01 Sep 2025
Persistent ‘Dental Deserts’ Risk Leaving Rural Communities Behind
New analysis from the Local Government Association (LGA) highlights a continuing crisis in NHS dental provision, with so-called ‘dental deserts’ leaving many communities – particularly rural and deprived areas –...
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26 Aug 2025
Rural Transport – Practical Solutions for Connected Communities
Thursday 18 September 2025 | 13:30 – 15:30 Part of the National Rural Conference 2025 Bookings now open for RSN members: View the full programme Getting around in rural areas...
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18 Aug 2025
MPs Call For Urgent Action To Reverse Bus Service Decline
The Transport Committee has warned that bus services in England have suffered a decade of decline, leaving many communities — particularly in smaller towns, coastal areas, and the countryside —...
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18 Aug 2025
How SMEB is Supporting Communities in the Rural Financial Divide
As traditional bank branches disappear from rural high streets it has impacted local businesses and communities. However there are solutions now stepping up to bridge this gap. At the forefront...
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11 Aug 2025
Digital Shift Could Deepen Inequality
New analysis from Age UK has found that 2.4 million older people in the UK — nearly one in five (19%) — have limited use of the internet, going online...
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11 Aug 2025
End Digital Poverty Day 2025: Share your plans. Shape the national picture
On Friday 12 September, people and organisations across the UK will mark End Digital Poverty Day – a national moment for coordinated, visible action. Launched by the Digital Poverty Alliance...
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28 Jul 2025
Committee Warns Local Government Finance System is ‘Broken’
The Housing, Communities and Local Government Committee has issued a stark warning that the current local government funding system is no longer sustainable – calling for urgent reform to protect...
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28 Jul 2025
What is the State of the UK’s Digital Divide?
Digital Nation 2025, the latest annual infographic from Good Things Foundation, paints a stark picture of ongoing digital exclusion across the UK. Using data from Ofcom, Age UK, Lloyds Bank,...
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