Rural Communities
01 Jul 2025
NAO Report Finds Local Bus Services in Long-Term Decline
The National Audit Office (NAO) has published a critical new report examining the state of local bus services in England, highlighting a long-term decline in services outside London — with...
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01 Jul 2025
Bringing Care Closer to Home
Hospice UK has published a significant new report, Bringing Care Closer to Home, which calls for urgent action to address the inequalities faced by people living in remote, rural and...
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30 Jun 2025
Plunkett UK Announces Two New Appointments to Strengthen Support for Rural Community Businesses
Plunkett UK has made two key appointments to bolster its work supporting rural community-owned businesses. David Lydiat has joined as Head of External Affairs, a newly created role bringing together...
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24 Jun 2025
Social Mobility Starts with Rural Opportunity
Social Mobility, An Opinion Piece by Kerry Booth, Chief Executive of the Rural Services Network Should Where You Are Born Limit Your Potential? In a report recently published by The...
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24 Jun 2025
House of Lords Hears from RSN on Rural Challenges
Last week, Rural Services Network Chief Executive Kerry Booth gave oral evidence to the House of Lords Social Mobility Policy Committee as part of its ongoing inquiry into the barriers...
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24 Jun 2025
Government Launches Fair Funding and Council Tax Reform Plans
The Government has published a major Written Ministerial Statement setting out the next stage of its plans to reform how local government in England is funded — and how council...
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24 Jun 2025
Innovation Is Key To Rural Retail Resilience
The Future of Rural Retail, launched by Plunkett UK, explores how community-owned shops can remain relevant in a fast-changing retail environment. Drawing on insights from a national taskforce of 19...
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24 Jun 2025
The Future of Community Bus Services: Have Your Say
The Rural Services Network is pleased to share details of new research from one of our members, the Community Transport Association (CTA), exploring the use of Section 22 permits in...
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24 Jun 2025
New NFU Mutual Report Highlights Growing Impact of Rural Crime
The latest Rural Crime Report from NFU Mutual offers a detailed picture of the financial and emotional toll rural crime continues to take on our communities. Drawing on annual claims...
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09 Jun 2025
Spotlight on Bank Closures and Rural Communities
Bank closures and their impact on rural communities were firmly in the national spotlight last week, with the issue debated in Parliament and discussed on Sky News. Ahead of the...
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