defra
24 Mar 2026
The Rural Reality: Heating Oil Pressures Continue
Following our recent coverage of rising heating oil costs, the Rural Services Network has continued to hear directly from members about the real-world impact on rural households and communities. As...
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24 Nov 2025
Rural Taskforce Work Progresses as DEFRA Sets Out Growth Plan
Defra Secretary of State Emma Reynolds used her speech at the Country Land & Business Association (CLA) Rural Business Conference last week to set out the Government’s ambition for a...
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26 Aug 2025
Call For Evidence: Support For Women And Girls In Rural Areas
DEFRA, working with the Home Office and other government departments, is developing a new strategy and action plan to address violence against women and girls (VAWG). To inform this, they...
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28 Jul 2025
Consultation Opens on Proposed Reforms to WaterSure Scheme
DEFRA has launched a consultation on proposed reforms to the WaterSure scheme, which supports low-income households in England with high essential water use by capping their water and sewerage bills....
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27 May 2025
New Figures Expose Rural Fuel Poverty Gap
DEFRA’s latest Statistical Digest of Rural England (May 2025) shines a spotlight on the ongoing issue of fuel poverty in rural areas, revealing the tough reality faced by many rural...
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22 Apr 2025
Rural Growth Must Power National Renewal
Newly released figures from DEFRA’s Rural Economic Bulletin reveal a stark warning: productivity in England’s most sparsely populated rural areas has fallen to just 84% of the national average, down...
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22 Apr 2025
New Grants to Drive Innovation on Farms
DEFRA has announced a boost to food security, with more than £45 million in new grants to drive and develop innovative technologies on farms. From 28 April, applications will open...
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31 Mar 2025
An Update on the Rural England Prosperity Fund (REPF)
The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) has recently announced an important update regarding the Rural England Prosperity Fund (REPF). This fund, a critical component of the government’s...
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31 Mar 2025
Rural Communities in Focus: Insights, Inspiration, and What’s Next
Last week, we were proud to host another of our exclusive member-only seminars—this time focusing on the heartbeat of our work: rural communities. This engaging online event brought together RSN...
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03 Feb 2025
Government Launches Consultation on Land Use
The Government has initiated a public consultation to refine its approach to land use in England, aiming to balance the nation’s food security with economic expansion and environmental restoration. This...
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