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The Rural Services Network (RSN) is thrilled to announce the National Rural Conference 2024, taking place from 16th to 19th September. This virtual event, accessible via Zoom, is the premier gathering for senior officers, members, policymakers, and rural service professionals.
Further information and booking details can be found here
UK cash machine network Link has promised free access to cash on every UK high street, according to the website YourMoney.com The plan will see the UK’s banks and building societies contributing to a fund that can be made...
Digital Secretary Nicky Morgan writes in the Telegraph about plans to improve digital infrastructure around Britain. She announced new measures to boost connectivity in rural communities by allowing new, and taller, mobile phone masts in rural areas. Morgan...
The website MoneyExpert.com reports on the news that 2018-19 was the first year since 1972 that no new 1p coins entered circulation No new 2p coins were issued for the first year since 1984 and no new £2 were...
Millions of people are at risk of mobile signal blackouts because they live in the four-fifths of UK constituency areas that suffer from patchy 4G mobile coverage, new analysis from Which? reveals. The Which? analysis of Ofcom’s Connected Nations...
The Mirror reports on comments made by Countryfile host John Craven lamenting the loss of rural services and saying the problem has left residents ‘socially isolated’. Speaking to BBC Countryfile Magazine, Craven expresses concern about the disappearance of rural...
PA Media reports on new research published by banking app Pockit, which found that banks are closing branches in poorer areas of England at a faster rate than in wealthier areas It found that, on average, the most deprived...
Rural Services Network chief executive Graham Biggs coordinated a letter which was published last week in The Times. It expresses disappointment that the Government rejected the Lords Rural Economy Committee’s recommendation ‘for a comprehensive rural strategy to ensure the...
The Guardian and The Times report that the number of small schools in England has halved since 1980 Small schools in rural and village environments are twice as likely to have closed than in urban areas. According to...
The Independent Food, Farming & Countryside Commission hosted by the RSA in its report launched on Tuesday 16th July ‘Our Future in the Land’ has added its voice to the calls by the RSN and the House of Lords Select...
The Financial Times reports that the Government has refused to intervene to protect banking services in rural areas, despite recommendations from the Treasury Committee. In May, the Committee called for the financial regulator and the Government to force banks...
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Amid reduced public spending, fair resource allocation across regions is crucial. Despite a population larger than Greater London, rural areas receive significantly less funding for essential services, even though delivering these services in rural areas is more expensive.
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.
Rural residents face distinct healthcare challenges, including limited access to transport, longer distances to medical facilities, an aging demographic, housing inadequacies, digital connectivity gaps, and difficulties recruiting health and care workers.
Rural communities are grappling with a severe affordable housing crisis, marked by high house prices, a lack of affordable housing, elevated living costs, and lower incomes, threatening their sustainability and vitality.
Transport is vital for the quality of life and economic health of rural areas, yet it faces challenges such as infrequent public bus services and less Government funding compared to urban regions.
Rural areas, encompassing a substantial portion of England's population and land, play a pivotal role in combating climate change and achieving the net zero target.
In an increasingly digital world, the lack of robust digital infrastructure in rural areas severely limits access to crucial services and stifles economic growth.
A future-focused vision for rural communities involves not just building the right homes in the right places but also ensuring thriving, sustainable communities.
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