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Last week our members joined the leading UK loneliness charity, The Marmalade Trust, to mark Loneliness Awareness Week 2023. Braintree District Council held a ‘Stop and Chat’ pop up in Braintree Town Centre & Halstead. Working with Community360, Braintree...
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? The article reads… ...
A toolkit to help set up Warm Hubs across the country has been launched, with support agencies encouraged to build on this winter’s Warm Spaces initiatives and convert them to Warm Hubs. Warm Hubs were originally created by Community...
Pressure is mounting on the Government to safeguard digital terrestrial TV (more commonly known as Freeview) and aerial radio services until at least 2040 Last week the Broadcast 2040+ campaign, of which the Rural Services Network was a founding...
Work to boost suitable housing options for older people kicked off last week as a government-appointed taskforce met for the first time in London The Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, working with the Department for Health...
With GP surgery's busier than ever The Rt Hon Steve Barclay MP has announced a primary recovery plan which aims are to better recover from the pandemic, to cut NHS waiting lists and to make the most of the opportunities ahead. The...
The BBC report how campaigners have warned that Vodafone turning off its 3G network will lead to people with older and more basic phones falling into "digital poverty." Vodafone will be the first UK telecoms firm to stop providing...
The BBC report how more people will be able to access health services without needing to see a GP under a plan launched by officials in England It asks patients to use high street pharmacies for some...
A huge response to the Daily Express Keep Us Tuned In crusade is increasing pressure on ministers to protect traditional TV services Television and radio transmitted through an aerial is only guaranteed until the mid-2030s under current government plans....
As you may have seen in previous editions of the RSN Spotlight, the Rural Services Network (RSN) is a founding coalition member of the Broadcast 2040+ campaign. The campaign was established to ensure the Government’s media policy protects vital broadcast...
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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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