This newsletter is provided by the Rural Services Network

News from RSN

Post Office eases bank closure pain

Rural residents face social care 'lottery'

Rural Conference 2018

We are pleased to launch a busy line up of expert speakers for our Rural Conference in Sept 2018, sponsored by The Post Office.  Kindly hosted by the University of Gloucestershire it features a keynote speech from Tony Travers!

Workshops will give delegates the opportunity to explore a topic in more detail including:
* Fairer Funding in Rural Areas by Dan Bates
* The Plunkett Foundation exploring how to set up a community shop 
* West Suffolk on 'District mergers,Creating a single council for West Suffolk'
* The Rural Business Awards on 'How enterprise can support rural communities'
* South Western Housing Society with 'Innovation through Collaboration'

Book your place here!

Rural England CIC launched its research report earlier this year into:

'Issues facing providers of social care at home to older rural residents'

Further Research and Comment from the Rural Services Network

Why global health matters to Rural England?

In bringing together domestic and international health concerns ‘global health’ criss-crosses geographical, cultural, economic and linguistic boundaries. But what exactly is global health? Why does it matter? And how might it benefit rural communities across the UK?

Jessica Sellick investigates.

Older People in Rural Areas in the news:

ATM closures could leave elderly struggling (1 May 18)

Reducing banking facilities could leave older people struggling to access their cash.  Age Scotland has warned that pensioners will be hard hit by cuts to free-to-use ATMs. (Third Force News)

Generational gap exists in tackling farming's mental health stigma (14 May 2018)

Farming’s increasingly isolated nature is leaving rural communities vulnerable to mounting mental health problems, charity leaders have warned. They hailed the efforts of the region’s agricultural organisations in raising the profile of the issue but admitted there is much more work to do to reach older generations, many of whom remain too proud to seek help. (Yorkshire Post)

Council chiefs call for a 'residential revolution' in older people's housing (1 May 2018)

Local authority leaders have said they should be granted the powers necessary to undertake a ‘desperately-needed’ residential revolution in older people’s housing.  Responding to an APPG report on older people’s housing in rural areas, the Local Government Association (LGA) said councils needed the ‘right tools’ to ensure elderly people living outside of urban areas have suitable accommodation. (Localgov.co.uk)

Older Brits trapped in isolated rural houses (30 April 2018)

A growing number of retired people are stuck in isolated rural homes with stairs they cannot climb, rooms they cannot afford to heat and gardens they cannot tend, a report says today.  Nearly half the households in the countryside will be comprised of people aged over 65 by 2039 but their housing needs have been ignored, the all-party parliamentary group on housing and care for older people claims. (The Times)

The Rural Services Partnership is a key part of the Rural Services Network and provides services for health, housing, fire and rescue, youth and elderly organisations. 

The RSP provides a suite of services for its members to exchange information, learn from best practice, lobby government and much more.  If you'd like to find out more or are interested in joining, contact Jon Turner, Policy Director. 

RSN Observatory

• Economy
• Housing
• Environment
• Health, Wellbeing and Social Services
• Learning Skills and Education
• Travel and Transport
• Emergency Services