The Rural Services Network, including SPARSE Rural, is often quoted in the media - by newspapers and the specialist press, as well as on radio and television.

A selection of articles highlighting the work of the Rural Services Network on behalf of England's rural communities is shown below

November 2023

The below media outlets have published the following quote from the Rural Services Network about the concerns of the reduction in availability of cash for rural residents:

Kerry Booth, RSN Chief Executive “The Rural Services Network is concerned about the reduction in availability of cash for rural residents.  Whilst the Government has committed to people and businesses being no more than three miles away from a place that they can withdraw cash, reducing ATMs mean that in reality it is becoming more difficult for rural residents to access cash.  In my constituency, the total number of ATMs has reduced by over a third in the last five years.  We would like to see Government ensure that rural residents are not being disadvantaged yet again simply because of where they live.“

Mirror:
https://www.mirror.co.uk/money/warning-anyone-who-uses-cash-31520316
MSN:
https://www.msn.com/en-gb/money/other/warning-to-anyone-who-uses-cash-machines-as-number-of-free-atms-plunges/ar-AA1ktbyN?ocid=finance-verthp-feeds
Birmingham Mail:
https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/midlands-news/lloyds-barclays-santander-hsbc-natwest-28169858
The Grocer:
https://www.thegrocer.co.uk/convenience/free-to-use-atms-drop-by-more-than-15000-in-five-years/685662.article
Talking Retail:
https://www.talkingretail.com/news/industry-news/number-of-free-to-use-atms-falls-by-over-15000-in-five-years-23-11-2023/
Convenience Store:
https://www.conveniencestore.co.uk/your-business/over-15000-free-to-use-atms-disappear-in-five-years/685670.article

July 2023

31st July - BBC Farming Today
Chief Executive of the Rural Services Network Kerry Booth featured on Farming Today on Monday 31st July talking about rural services.
- More details about this can be found here

17th July
The Rural Coalition set out a stark warning to the Government not to ignore the 9.7million people living in rural areas. The Coalition, an alliance of thirteen national organisations including the RSN, set out an urgent appeal for all political parties to empower rural areas in election manifestos to improve the prospects and opportunities for rural businesses and communities:

• rsnonline - Rural Coalition makes further calls on the Government
• The Mirror - Almost 10million rural voters risk being left behind at next election, campaigners warn
• Shropshire Star - Future government 'must improve prospects and opportunities for rural communities and firms'
• A letter also appeared in the Times newspaper

11th July - BBC Midlands Today
Kerry Booth, Chief Executive of the Rural Services Network, spoke to BBC Midlands Today to discuss the RSN's support of a petition to save the Post Office network.

View a clip of the story from BBC Midlands Today by clicking here. You can sign the petition here. Paper copies are also available at your local Post Office.

June 2023

• Our Policy Advisor Graham Biggs has been featured in the New Stateman disussing the loss of bus services. 
  You can read this article here
• Our Policy Advisor Graham Biggs was also invited onto BBC Radio Cornwall to talk to it’s Breakfast Presenter James Churchfield about a number of Post Offices facing closure across the county. 
  
• Our Chief Executive Kerry Booth was asked by Care Management Matters to share her thoughts on migration patterns which show young people leaving rural areas in their droves. 
  You can read the full article here.
• RSN Chief Executive, Kerry Booth, addressed the Government recently announced new initiative of “Unleashing Rural Productivity” during an interview on the BBC’s Farming Today programme with Anna Hill. 
  

May 2023

Kerry Booth, Chief Executive of the Rural Services Network, recently wrote in the Care Management Matters periodical, asking the question how can we ensure an ageing rural population can access the care services they need?

• Care Management Matters - Fairer funding for rural communities 

The Broadcast 2040+ campaign (A coalition of groups which includes the RSN) is expanding is campaign to guarantee access to Freeview and radio beyond the year 2040:

National

• The Express – A coalition grows demanding to save traditional TV from streaming services taking over  - both online and in print (syndicated by MSN, VBExplorer, World News Mojo, Verified News Explorer Network)

Trade Outlets

• Advanced Television – Broadcast 2040+ campaign grows numbers
• Broadband and TV News - Broadcast 2040+ grows campaign to maintain UK DTT 
• CSI Magazine - Broadcast 2040+ grows campaign to maintain UK DTT 
• TVB Europe -  Campaign to protect UK's terrestrial TV and radio gathers pace

March 2023

Rising numbers of people in the countryside are becoming homeless in a crisis deepened by the cost-of-living crisis, a study (commissioned by a rural homelessness task force bringing together experts from organisations including the RSN) has found:

The Independent - ‘Hidden countryside homelessness’ crisis fuelled by cost of living

BBC News - 'A village's goodwill saved me from life on the streets'

rsnonline - Rural homelessness getting worse

February 2023

The Broadcast 2040+ campaign (A coalition of groups which includes the RSN) is stepping up its battle - and a petition by a leading pensioners' group has crossed the 10,000-signature milestone, forcing a response from the Government.

The Mirror - Pressure mounts on Tories to save terrestrial TV from big switch off after 2040

January 2023

The Countryfile episode aired on Sunday 22nd January 23 featured research by the Rural Services Network
In a story focusing on Levelling Up and the investment by the Government into this policy approach,  raised questions as to whether rural is getting its fair share of the funding.

You can see more of the episode which is available for a limited time, at this link

December 2022

A coalition of groups – including Silver Voices, the Children’s Media Foundation, the Rural Services Network and the Voice of the Listener and Viewer – is urging the Government to safeguard broadcast services

The Mirror - Campaigners urge Government to fight for traditional TV and radio signals

Advanced Television - Poll: UK adults want FTA broadcasting protected

Cornwall Live - Some Cornwall residents could lose all their Freeview TV channels

November 2022

Graham Biggs, Chief Executive of the Rural Services Network, was interviewed by BBC Breakfast about the importance of village halls in rural areas and concerns over rising costs.

rsnonline - 1,000 village halls face closure as fuel bills soar

Speaking to The MJ, Graham Biggs, chief executive of the Rural Services Network, said he feared many discretionary services in rural areas could be lost if the Treasury announces fresh austerity measures in the Autumn Statement without acknowledging its initial plan to improve rural finances eight years ago

The MJ - Rural services 'may be lost' without funding formula

rsnonline - Rural services 'may be lost' without funding formula

October 2022

BBC News - 'You think twice about driving': Fuel prices rise again

East Anglian Daily Times - Call to give Suffolk £3.7billion for better transport, internet and affordable homes

September 2022

Following the release of the the report 'Rural cost of living' the Rural Services Network have been featured in the following media articles:

National:

BBC News - Rural areas hit harder by cost-of-living crisis, study finds

Daily Express - Energy crisis horror as poorest Britons to fork out half of disposable income on bills

Government Business - Cost-of-living crisis worse in rural areas

Farming UK - Rural communities face 'triple blow' in cost-of-living crisis

Regional and Trade:

Lancashire Times - Report Reveals Triple Blow Pushes Rural Communities Into A Cost-Of-Living Emergency

Cumbria Times - Report Reveals Triple Blow Pushes Rural Communities Into A Cost-Of-Living Emergency

The Yorkshire Times - Report Reveals Triple Blow Pushes Rural Communities Into A Cost-Of-Living Emergency

North East Post - Report Reveals Triple Blow Pushes Rural Communities Into A Cost-Of-Living Emergency

News and Star - Rural Services Network study shows rural areas are being hit harder during cost-of-living crisis

Whitehaven News - Rural communities being hit harder during cost-of-living crisis

newsquest.co.uk - Rural communities being hit harder during cost-of-living crisis

West Cumberland Times and Star - Rural Services Network study shows rural areas are being hit harder during cost-of-living crisis 

Lancashire Telegraph - Burnley MP urges locals to nominate businesses for Countryside Alliance Awards

Shropshire Star - Rural areas get no help in mini-budget despite higher cost of living, says Shropshire MP

East Anglian Daily Times - Rural areas 'harder hit' by cost-of-living crisis, new report suggests

Hexham Courant - Rural areas hit harder by cost of living crisis, study finds

New Start Magazine - Rural communities are facing higher transport and household energy poverty

Tech Register - Energy crisis horror as poorest Britons to fork out half of disposable income on bills

Head Topics UK - Rural areas get no help in mini-budget despite higher cost of living, says Shropshire MP

Business Magazine 24 - Rural areas hit harder by cost-of-living crisis, study finds

The report also featured heavily across several broadcast platforms:

• BBC Farming Today
• BBC Somerset Radio
• BBC Devon : 29th September, 05:40 UTC
  New report from the Rural Services Network shows that homelessness in rural areas is a hidden crisis it's partly down to a combination of factors like energy poverty in house prices, with homes in North Devon rising by 3 times the national rate.
• BBC Somerset : 28th September, 16:23 UTC
  New report is warning that rural communities are going to be hit twice as hard by the cost of living crisis the rural services network has found...Graham Biggs is the CEO of the rural services network.
• BBC Manchester : 28th September, 18:00 UTC
  The Rural Services Network says people living in the countryside will be worse off than those living in urban areas. Its chief executive, Graham Biggs, says people who use LP sea and oil to heat their homes are still waiting for help
• BBC Wiltshire : 28th September, 12:01 UTC
  A new report shows people living in rural areas will be worst off in the cost of living crisis, Graham Biggs is the CEO of the rural services network.
• BBC Cornwall : 28th September, 16:30 UTC
  A new report from the rural services network shows people living in rural areas such as Cornwall will be worse off in the cost of living crisis because of higher energy bills, spending more on transport costs and earning less than people in urban areas.
• BBC Gloucester : 28th September, 17:00 UTC
  A new report shows that people living in rural parts of Gloucestershire, are facing a triple blow in the cost of living crisis the rural services network says it's because of bigger fuel bills, spending more on transport costs and earning less than people in urban areas.
• BBC Radio 4 : 24th September, 05:35 UTC
  New research from the Rural Services Network, which represents rural local authorities town and parish councils, finds rural areas are facing a cost of living triple whammy, as the transport and fuel crisis is devastating the lives of many people who live in the countryside.
• BBC Radio 4 : 23rd September, 04:53 UTC
  New research for the Rural Services Network, which represents rural local authorities town and parish councils, finds rural areas are facing a cost of living triple whammy, as the transport and fuel crisis is devastating the lives of many people who live in the countryside.
• BBC Northampton : 23rd September, 09:42 UTC
  I would urge people if you want to have a look at some facts and figures about the countryside, the Rural Services Network has put out some extremely interesting and useful figures comparing urban and rural areas and how much less rural areas getting comparison to urban and how much more there issues are in comparison.
• BBC London News : 23rd September, 16:35 UTC
  A report out this week from the Rural Services Network says people living in rural areas are paying more for things like transport, heating.  
• BBC Tees : 22nd September, 15:31 UTC
  New new study says the rising cost of living is hitting people in rural areas harder than those in towns and cities. The Rural Services Network, which represents rural councils like those in areas of North Yorkshire and County Durham said people spend much more on essentials such as heating and transport.
• BBC Humberside : 22nd September, 14:42 UTC
  New report out today says rural communities face higher bills, compared to those in urban areas. These claims come from a group called the Rural Services Network - Graham Biggs is their chief executive...
• BBC Northampton : 22nd September, 14:00 UTC
  New new study says the rising cost of living is hitting people in rural areas harder than those in towns and cities. The Rural Services Network, which represents rural councils like those in areas of North Yorkshire and County Durham said people spend much more on essentials such as heating and transport.
• BBC 2 Radio : 22nd September, 13:51 UTC
  New new study says the rising cost of living is hitting people in rural areas harder than those in towns and cities. The Rural Services Network, which represents rural councils like those in areas of North Yorkshire and County Durham said people spend much more on essentials such as heating and transport.
• BBC Northampton : 22nd September, 12:00 UTC
  The Rural Services Network, which represents rural councils and other service providers, says people there spend much more on essentials such as heating and transport.
• BBC Somerset : 22nd September, 08:01 UTC
  The Rural Services Network, which represents rural councils and other service providers, says people there spend much more on essentials such as heating and transport.
• BBC Radio Surrey : 22nd September, 07:00 UTC
  The Rural Services Network, which represents rural councils and other service providers, says people there spend much more on essentials such as heating and transport.
• BBC Jersey : 22nd September, 06:50 UTC
  The Rural Services Network, which represents rural councils and other service providers, says people there spend much more on essentials such as heating and transport.
• BBC Leicester : 22nd September, 05:39 UTC
  The Rural Services Network, which represents rural councils and other service providers, says people there spend much more on essentials such as heating and transport.
• BBC Somerset : 22nd September, 05:01 UTC
  The Rural Services Network, which represents rural councils and other service providers, says people there spend much more on essentials such as heating and transport.
• BBC Radio Surrey : 22nd September, 04:59 UTC
  The Rural Services Network, which represents rural councils and other service providers, says people there spend much more on essentials such as heating and transport.

The BBC have reported on the interim findings of research into Rural Homelessness, commissioned by a rural taskforce. The research is being carried out by University of Kent and the University of Southampton, and was commissioned by a group led by English Rural Housing Association and includes the Rural Services Network

BBC - Sleeping in barns - homeless in the countryside

July 2022

Business Cheshire - For too long businesses in rural communities have been discriminated against based on being digitally isolated – this has to end

June 2022

Following the release of the the report 'Rural as a region: the hidden challenge for Levelling Up' the Rural Services Network have been featured in the following media articles:

The Municipal Journal (MJ) - Levelling up 'biased towards larger towns and cities'

Local Goverment Chronicle LGC) - Warning current levelling up approach risks worsening rural-urban divides

East Anglian Daily Times - Rural Suffolk should be top of the list for levelling up cash, report says

Yorkshire Times - ‘Hidden Region’: Rural England Forgotten In Government’s Levelling Up White Paper

Cumbria Times - ‘Hidden Region’: Rural England Forgotten In Government’s Levelling Up White Paper

North East Post - ‘Hidden Region’: Rural England Forgotten In Government’s Levelling Up White Paper

Lancashire Times - ‘Hidden Region’: Rural England Forgotten In Government’s Levelling Up White Paper

_______

Newsnight on 14th June highlighted the plight of rural communities struggling with the negative impact of the rising cost of fuel on rural communities:

Newsnight - Priced off the road

East Anglian Daily Times - MPs to champion EADT's manifesto for rural communities in Westminster

Work Foundation - Accessing digital services in rural communities
*The Rural Services Network have been quoted as contributing the reserach discussed in this news item

Arqiva - Protect traditional TV & radio” say the British people as Broadcast 2040+ campaign launches

April 2022

The below article written by RSN Chair Cecilia Motley is features in Local Government First:
LG First - Will ‘levelling up’ deliver for rural areas?

February 2022

Cecilia Motley, Chair of Rural Services Network, discusses the historic underfunding found in rural areas and how 'levelling up' is further ignoring the issues. BBC Midlands Today (found at 4:08)

Kerry Booth, The RSN Deputy Chief Executive, features on the Association of Convenience Stores (ACS) 'The Local Shop Podcast' discussing the importance of rural shops and the vulnerability of people living in rural areas. This podcast can be found here

November 2021

Recent RSN reports feature in the below article about rural poverty, in the latest edition of Prospect magazine:
Prospect - Poverty in rural Britain is too often overlooked—as my story shows

October 2021

An article by Graham Biggs, Chief Executive of the Rural Services Network, has been published by:
The Planner - Levelling up is failing to solve the rural housing and planning crisis

September 2021

An article by Councillor Cecilia Motley, Chair of the Rural Services Network, has been published by:
Local Government First magazine - Levelling up to revitalise rural areas

VICE - UK Rent Prices Are Rising Four Times Faster in the Countryside Than in Cities

Following the launch of the The State of Care in County and Rural Areas Report, released by the County Councils Network (CCN) and the Rural Services Network (RSN), the report has been featured in the following media articles:

The Times - We mustn’t underestimate the impact of social care reform on councils

LocalGov - County council leaders warn social care reforms ‘fall short’

August 2021

Following the release of the the report 'Towards the UK Shared Prosperity Fund' the Rural Services Network have been featured in the following media articles:

The Independent - Rural areas left out of Treasury’s levelling-up cash, report claims

The Independent - Rural communities left out of Tories' levelling-up fund

MSN - Rural areas left out of Treasury’s levelling-up cash, report claims

LocalGov - Rural communities 'overlooked' in levelling-up funding, report finds

Yorkshire Times - Rural Communities ‘Overlooked’ In Whitehall’s Allocation Of Post-brexit Levelling Up Fund

The Planner - Report: Rural communities missing out on levelling-up cash

Government Business - Rural communities overlooked in ‘levelling up’ funding

Farming UK - Rural areas 'overlooked' in post-Brexit levelling up funds

English Rural Twitter Account

Love by Life - Rural areas excluded from treasury leveling cash, report says

Eminetra - Treasury Level Up Rural Areas Excluded from Cash, Report Claims

TWNews - Rural areas left out of Treasury’s levelling-up cash, report claims

BusinessFast - Rural areas left out of Treasury’s levelling-up cash, report claims

Tech Register - Rural areas left out of Treasury’s levelling-up cash, report claims

NewsBreak - Rural areas left out of Treasury’s levelling-up cash, report claims

Knowledia News (UK) - Rural areas left out of Treasury’s levelling-up cash, report claims

NewsGroove Uk - Rural areas left out of Treasury’s levelling-up cash, report claims

Vietnam Explorer News Channel - Rural areas left out of Treasury’s levelling-up cash, report claims

Business Mayor - Rural areas left out of Treasury’s levelling-up cash, report claims

The World News - Rural areas left out of Treasury’s levelling-up cash, report claims

North East Post - Rural Communities ‘Overlooked’ In Whitehall’s Allocation Of Post-brexit Levelling Up Fund

Lancashire Times - Rural Communities ‘Overlooked’ In Whitehall’s Allocation Of Post-brexit Levelling Up Fund

Cumbria Times - Rural Communities ‘Overlooked’ In Whitehall’s Allocation Of Post-brexit Levelling Up Fund

East Anglian Daily Times - Rural Suffolk missing out on levelling up cash, report says

London News Time - Treasury Level Up Rural Areas Excluded from Cash, Report Claims

MSN Ireland - Rural areas left out of Treasury’s levelling-up cash, report claims

June 2021

The Chief Executive of the Rural Services Network, Graham Biggs featured on Radio Devon on the 22nd of June to discuss planning legislation.

When asked about concerns in relation to the changes in planning Graham said:

"The worry is that once an area is in a zone, the issues about whether that development should be allowed or not have already been determined, and it becomes a question of little more than design so our big concern is about the involvement of ordinary people in communities in that particular process."

Listen to the interview here:
Radio Devon (Starts at 1.05.41)

May 2021

The RSN Chief Executive Graham Biggs is quoted in a Times newspaper article discussing the need for affordable housing in rural communities:

“There is a general presumption against building in the countryside, but there are exceptions to this presumption: they are called rural exception sites. These are small-scale developments that are built in keeping with existing villages. Half a dozen houses here or there. The design aesthetics have to be sympathetic to the community and the countryside. Development is allowed but with caveats: they are built by housing associations and have to include affordable rent and shared ownership. There are restrictions about who it can be sold to in the future, it must meet local needs.”

Full article:

The Times - How do we build more homes in the countryside?
*Please be aware you will require a Times subscription to be able to read the full article

March 2021

Detailed below is a roundup of the media coverage in March 2021 received from the release of our Revitalising Rural Campaign
(You can view information about this campaign here)

Regional press

Cumbria Crack (05/03/21)
Cumbria highways chief backs call for fair funding for rural public services

Yorkshire Times (04/03/21)
Government Urged To “Give People In Villages The Same Opportunity As Those Living In Bigger Towns And Cities”

Lancashire Times (04/03/21)
Government Urged To “Give People In Villages The Same Opportunity As Those Living In Bigger Towns And Cities”

Cumbria Times (04/03/21)
Government Urged To “Give People In Villages The Same Opportunity As Those Living In Bigger Towns And Cities”

Trade press

New Start (04/03/21)
Ministers urged to level up villages and rural areas

Dispensing Doctors Association (03/03/21)
Rural health service development flagged up in new report

Broadcast

BBC Radio 4 (04/03/21)
At 05:51

BBC Somerset (04/03/21)
At 15:27, 15:52, 15:48,

Farming Today (04/03/21)
Budget support for rural businesses, chicken microbiome, gene editing in developing countries

October 2020

Detailed below is a roundup of the media coverage in October received from the release of a report commissioned by the Rural Services Network, along with CPRE and English Rural Housing into the Economic and Fiscal case for investing in rural affordable housing to drive post-pandemic recovery. 
(You can view information about this report here)Also detailed is an article which appeared in the LGA's First Magazine which details the outcomes of the National Rural Conference 2020

BBC Farming Today - Rural homelessness, dark sky parks and public money for hunts

The Guardian - Rural homelessness in England rises by 115% in past two years

The key messages from last month’s annual National Rural Conference were loud and clear: the importance of rural areas to the national economy and ‘revitalising rural

LGA First Magazine (Page 23) - Time to revitalise rural areas

September 2020

Detailed below is a roundup of the media coverage in September received from the RSN Press Release - 'Warning over access to Covid-19 testing for rural social care sector'
(You can view this press release here)

April 2019

Detailed below is a roundup of the media coverage in April received from the RSN's call for Government to produce a new rural strategy:

- LocalGov - Peers call for strategies to develop ‘under-performing’ rural areas

- ComputerWeekly.com - Ofcom must rethink rural broadband USO, says Lords report

March 2019

Detailed below is a roundup of the media coverage received from the RSN's call for Government to produce a new rural strategy:

Editorial:
- ISPreview
- LocalGov
- All About My Area
- Telecompaper

September 2018

• Read the latest article from our Chair Councillor Motley on Fair Funding for Rural Areas which features in Local Government First, the magazine published by the LGA. (page 27)
  - Direct link to the article
  
• Graham Biggs (RSN Chief Executive) was featured on BBC Points West in a wider discussion about social care in rural areas to highlight the issues that rural residents face (see below)
  
  

August 2018

The Rural Services Network has been featured in the Countryfile Special Collector’s Edition (August 2018).

Written by John Craven, the article ‘how has the Countryside changed?’ features the below quote from the RSN

“Rural services are at crisis point, the past 30 years has seen a dramatic decline not improvement, which for the foreseeable future is unlikely to change with Government austerity lasting well in the 2020s.

So, the pattern of rural residents, compared to their urban counterparts, paying more in council tax and for everyday goods and services but from lower incomes but receiving fewer services is set to continue and, indeed worsen.

The rural way of life, and quality of life, is under serious threat “

July 2018

• Read the latest article from our Chair Councillor Motley on Care costs in rural areas which features in Local Government First, the magazine published by the LGA. (page 26)

- Direct link to the article

May 2018

• Free school transport lost for 20,000 rural pupils (BBC Online)
• Call for change in how social care is funded (Craven Herald & Pioneer)

March 2018

• End demanded to 'unfair' underfunding of children's education (Cornwall Live)

February 2018

• 'Left behind': NFU calls for fairer police funding for rural areas (Farming UK)