Rural Economies
Economic growth is widely acknowledged as essential for national wealth and prosperity, and is a priority for political parties. Rural economies, employing millions and home to a higher proportion of small businesses, have potential for growth if barriers are removed.
28 Apr 2025
Rural Policing – Join the Conversation
The Rural Services Network, a proud Executive Board Member of the Rural National Crime Network, is encouraging rural residents to have their say on policing in their communities. The Rural...
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28 Apr 2025
Inspiring Change in Rural Healthcare
The National Centre for Remote and Rural Medicine (NCRRM) is once again preparing to welcome healthcare professionals from across the UK and beyond for its annual conference. Taking place on...
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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
Housing Crisis is a Health Crisis
A powerful new report from Crisis, supported by Health Equals, is shining a spotlight on how unaffordable private rents are driving people into poor health and homelessness. Titled “Now I...
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22 Apr 2025
The Full Package on Rural Postal Services
Citizens Advice has published a new report, The Full Package: What Consumers Need from a Changing Postal Service, providing detailed insight into how people across England and Wales use letters,...
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22 Apr 2025
Will Metro Mayors Deliver for the Countryside?
On Thursday 1 May 2025, voters in parts of England will head to the polls to elect metro mayors for several combined authority areas. These roles come with strategic powers...
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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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14 Apr 2025
Elevating Rural Voices: RSN’s Year of Impact
As the national voice championing rural services, the Rural Services Network (RSN) is proud to reflect on a year of meaningful progress, advocacy, and collaboration. In 2024/25, we continued to...
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14 Apr 2025
Call for Urgent Investment in Rural Housing as Crisis Grows
At Current Rates, Clearing Rural Social Housing Waiting Lists Would Take 89 Years. A pioneering partnership between housing and homelessness organisations has launched a report to make the case to...
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14 Apr 2025
Government Sets Out Reforms to Repair Local Audit System
The government has announced a package of reforms intended to address longstanding issues within the local audit system in England, which it describes as “broken” and “fragmented.” The reforms, outlined...
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