Rural Fair Funding
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 locales is costlier.
20 Oct 2026
Rural Voice Must Be Built Into Devolution, Report Warns
Devolution could bring significant benefits to rural England, but fair funding and stronger rural representation must be part of its foundations, a new report warns. Published by the All-Party Parliamentary...
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20 Oct 2026
Report Highlights The Rural Healthcare Penalty
NHS funding and service reforms must better reflect the challenges facing rural and coastal communities, according to a new report from Policy Exchange. For rural residents, getting healthcare can involve...
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12 Oct 2026
Devolution Was Unofficial Theme Of Labour Party Conference
Written by Kerry Booth Chief Executive, Rural Services Network While ‘Hope again’ was the official badge of the Labour Party Conference, Devolution, felt like the unofficial theme as session after...
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12 Oct 2026
SEND Funding Brings Relief, But Rural Delivery Matters
Funding to reduce historic SEND deficits will ease pressure on council finances. For rural families, the key test is whether approved plans lead to better access to support. The Department...
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12 Oct 2026
Rural Community Transport: Keeping Communities Connected
A lift to a medical appointment, a journey to college or a trip to meet friends. In rural communities, being able to make that journey can make a significant difference...
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12 Oct 2026
One In Four Children Wait A Year For Community Care
More than one in four children waiting for community health services in England have been on the list for at least a year, according to new analysis by The King’s...
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05 Oct 2026
Rising Social Care Costs Increase Pressure On Council Services
Rising social care demand is placing growing pressure on council finances and the wider services communities depend on. Official Government figures show that English councils spent £27.4 billion on adult...
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28 Sep 2026
National Cultural Framework To Reset How Culture Is Delivered
The Local Government Association has set out for the first time a proposal to create a new coherent and robust cultural system that provides a shared responsibility for how culture...
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28 Sep 2026
More Than 280,000 People Lose Their Local Pharmacy In 2026
More than 280,000 people in England have seen their local pharmacy close in the first eight months of 2026, according to analysis by the National Pharmacy Association (NPA). The NPA’s...
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22 Sep 2026
Open Letter To The Prime Minister: Good Growth Must Reach Rural England
The Rural Services Network has written an open letter to Prime Minister Andy Burnham, urging the Government to ensure its ambition for “good growth in every postcode” reaches rural England....
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