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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
This newsletter is provided by the Rural Health Network, part of the Rural Services Network. It includes a roundup of rural health & social care news, research, learning and best practice. ...
The Guardian reported on the pressures being faced by rural hospitals as a result of the so-called ‘county lines’ drugs trade, which has seen urban gangs moving drugs between cities and smaller towns and rural areas. The report noted...
Philip Hammond on Monday announced £200 million of Government funding to extend full-fibre broadband to hard-to-reach rural areas. The Rural Gigabit Connectivity Programme will install hubs in public buildings such as primary schools and libraries first. A voucher...
A report recently published by the County All-Party-Parliamentary Group (APPG) and County Councils Network (CCN), Social Mobility in Counties, has found that current council funding models contribute to maintaining a cycle of low social mobility, Open Access Government reports. ...
The Treasury have provided us with a summary of announcements from the Budget 2018 which benefit Rural Areas. Below is a table showing these announcements set against the RSN Priorities. There are also some comments from RSN in...
The Chancellor will announce today hundreds of millions of pounds to support superfast broadband in remote areas of the country, according to The Sunday Telegraph. Phillip Hammond is expected to put technology at the heart of the Autumn Budget...
In August 2018 Bipolar UK surveyed their supporters to identify the specific needs of rural and urban communities. The recently released findings uncovered that living in rural communities exacerbated isolation, with respondents more likely to have to...
The National Central for Rural Health and Care (NCRHC) was launched in Parliament on Tuesday. Several MPs attended the event, with Anne-Marie Morris, MP for Newton Abbot and chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Rural Health and Social...
The BBC could lose money originally ring-fenced to fund rural broadband, according to new government plans. The Guardian reported that the £60 million fund could instead be handed to private firms such as Netflix and Amazon to encourage the...
The University of Birmingham and Rose Regeneration have published a joint report into workforce challenges in the NHS and social care from a rural point of view. It found the main challenges for staffing in rural areas were: disproportionate...
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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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