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Parents and students in North Hampshire are protesting proposed cuts to school bus services that would see pupils walking three miles across ‘unlit heathland and a busy A road’ in the dark to school, as reported by ITV News. ...
Canon Sally Gaze is the first Church of England Archdeacon for Rural Mission to be appointed, according to the Church Times. The Archdeacon for Rural Mission will help to increase church attendance in rural areas and strengthen community ties....
The Office for National Statistics has published data on the ‘Sandwich Generation’ – those who care for both their parents and dependent children. The report found that they are more likely to suffer from mental ill-health, feel less satisfied...
The 10-year plan for the future of the NHS was announced last week, it outlines how the NHS budget will be spent over the next five years. Broadly, its stated aims are to: enable everyone to get the best...
New ‘smart homes’ are to be created to help elderly and disabled people tackle loneliness in rural areas, according to Open Access Government. The pilot, to take place in West Essex, will train residents to develop digital skills so...
Finding guidance and support as a young person can be a tricky task, made even more difficult for those living in rural areas – of which the South West has an abundance – where access to support is often thwarted...
We're looking forward to another busy year supporting all of our members . Our mission is to be the national champion for rural services, ensuring that people in rural areas have a strong voice. We are fighting for...
RSN response to Provisional Local Government Finance Settlement The Rural Services Network has long campaigned for fairer funding for rural areas and it today welcomed the additional £16million allocation to the Rural Services Delivery Grant by the Government in the...
Living in a rural area means a patient is 5 per cent more likely to die of cancer than a city dweller, according to a recent study by Aberdeen University, which was quoted in the Daily Mail. The researchers...
Through the answers given to four questions taken from the Annual Population Survey it is possible to gauge levels of life satisfaction, happiness, estimates of the feeling that things in life are worthwhile, and anxiety. This analysis presents this information...
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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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