Along with the Rural Coalition, Acre, Plunkett Foundation and supported by Calor, the Rural Services Network has been talking to it’s members and rural organisations about the campaign.

There have been a number of Time for a Rural Strategy Roadshows in different regions of England to raise awareness of the campaign and to explore potential regional rural issues.

Future events will also be held in the East Midlands, West Midlands, and South West


9th March 2020 - South East Rural Strategy Roadshow

Held in Chichester - kindly hosted by Chichester District Council

Featured presentations from:

• Acre (Download here)
• Rural West Sussex Partnership (Download here)
• South Downs National Park Authority (Download here)
• Rural Services Network (Download here)

→ The notes of the table discussions will follow

21st October 2019

Graham Biggs (RSN Chief Executive) met with the Yorkshire Food and Farming Network in Harrogate to discuss the ‘Time for a Rural Strategy’ campaign

17th October 2019 - North West Rural Strategy Roadshow

Held in Kendal kindly hosted by South Lakeland District Council

Featured presentations from:

• Rural Services Network (Download here)
• Britains Leading Edge
• Acre (Download here)

→ Download the notes of the table discussions

Sunday 22nd September 2019 - Labour Party Conference

Graham Biggs, CX of RSN spoke at this event of the campaign

Sunday 14th September 2019 - Liberal Democrats Party Conference

Graham Biggs, CX of RSN spoke at this event about campaign

11th July 2019 - North East Rural Strategy Roadshow

Held in Newcastle along with the Northern Rural Network

Featured presentations from:

• Northern Rural Network
• Rural Services Network (Download here)

→ Download the notes of the table discussions

July 2019 - The Food, Farming and Countryside Commission

The Food, Farming and Countryside Commission considered the campaign in the launch of their report, ‘Our Future in the Land’ and included this section:

“The problems are serious and their remedies complex. The Rural Services Network has called for a comprehensive rural strategy covering housing, digital and material infrastructure, health and social care, SME development and rural crime.  At the time of writing it has been endorsed by nearly 300 organisations, including Action for Communities in Rural England (ACRE) and dozens of parish councils, local Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE) groups and small businesses. In May 2019, the House of Lords Rural Economy Select Committee reiterated the need for a rural strategy and fleshed out its details.  We add our voice to these calls.”

24 June 2019 - Rural Economy Group Meeting

The Strategy and campaign were discussed and discussion focused on the rural economy (Download the meeting minutes and papers here)

RSN Regional Seminars 2019

Time for a Rural Strategy campaign has also been discussed at the regional seminar programme of the RSN.

More information about these seminars can be accessed here