RSP Member - Rural Action Derbyshire

Rural Action Derbyshire is an independent, trusted charity working alongside communities across Derbyshire to support strong, inclusive and sustainable rural places. We listen to communities, understand what makes their places unique, and work with them and partners to identify practical, locally led solutions.

A diverse rural county

Derbyshire is a county of contrasts. It includes the Peak District National Park, former mining towns and villages, market towns and dispersed rural settlements. Farming across the county reflects this diversity, from hill and livestock farming to lowland arable land. These differences shape rural life and rural need, and our work reflects the varied experiences and pressures facing communities across the county.

Our focus and areas of work

We work across the whole of Derbyshire, with a strong commitment to ensuring that smaller and more remote communities are not overlooked. Our work includes

• Food insecurity and digital inclusion, addressing the hidden nature of need in rural areas and the barriers of distance, cost and connectivity
• Affordable rural housing, supporting communities to understand local need and shape appropriate housing solutions
• Rural domestic abuse, where we are recognised leaders in rural practice and have delivered The Willow Project since 2020
• Communities Against Scams, helping rural residents recognise, avoid and recover from scams
• Community Oil Buying, supporting off gas households to access more affordable heating oil
• Village halls advice and support, providing tailored guidance to help trustees sustain and develop these vital rural assets

Transport and access to opportunity

For over 20 years, we successfully ran a Wheels to Work scheme, enabling people in rural areas to access employment, education and training where public transport was limited. Rising costs meant the scheme was no longer ?nancially viable and it closed in

March 2026. We are committed to finding alternative solutions, as independent, reliable and cost-effective travel is essential for individual opportunity, career progression and rural economic growth.

Understanding and influencing rural policy

A core part of our role is to highlight rural issues and inequalities, particularly where rural experiences are not well reflected in policy or service design. We work to influence policy makers and partners, using evidence, community insight and trusted relationships to advocate for fairer outcomes. This includes addressing rural health inequalities, where access to services, prevention and support can be significantly more challenging for rural residents.

How we work

We are proud to be a member of the ACRE Network, working alongside other rural community action organisations nationally. Our work is strengthened by support from Public Health at Derbyshire County Council, the Police and Crime Commissioner, Defra, and the generous contributions of donors and charity partners.

We are proud of our reputation, excellent relationships and dedicated staff team, and we remain open to new partnerships and collaborations that support thriving rural communities across Derbyshire.

Website - https://www.ruralactionderbyshire.org.uk/