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Commission for Rural Communities has published their Latest recession report to the Secretary of State: Financial Inclusion
The Environment Secretary announced that there will be increased financial aid for rural businesses in the East of England to help them through the downturn. The announcement by Hilary Benn lifts the funding restriction on a range of grants from 50 per cent to 100 per cent of the cost of each project funded under the government’s £3.9 billion Rural Development Programme for England (RDPE), part of which is managed by regional development agencies. www.eeda.org.uk [accessed 1/5/09]
The Commission for Rural Communities
(CRC) has welcomed many of the measures announced in last
week’s Budget Statement, but urged government Ministers to rural proof their
delivery and ensure that new funds to businesses and vulnerable groups are
accessible in
Rural shops run by local communities are
flourishing during the recession. Three community-owned shops are opened their
doors for the first time during March, according to The Plunkett Foundation.
They are among
60 community-owned rural shops to receive funding and specialist support under
the charity's Village CORE Programme. www.rsnonline.org.uk
[accessed 24/3/09]
Community spirit has never been more vital. An average of 39 pubs are closing every week, 15 per cent of shops will have closed by the end of the year, the Post Office has culled 2,500 branches and filling stations everywhere stand abandoned. www.people.co.uk [accessed 6/4/09]
More than half of British population thinks the countryside is boring and many of them are unable to identify common animals and plants, according to a survey. A third of respondents said they had never even considered visiting the British countryside. Their answers also revealed that one in 10 adults could not identify a sheep, 44% could not spot an oak tree and 83% did not know what a bluebell looked like. www.fwi.co.uk [accessed 6/4/09]
Rural residents often lack vital services when they need them most, the government has been told. People experiencing a major life event - such as a terminal illness, losing a job or having a baby - often had nowhere to turn, said the government's rural watchdog. www.ruralcity.co.uk [accessed 28/4/09]
The Rural Digital Economy Research
Hub will investigate how advances in
digital technologies can transform rural communities, society and business. It
will conduct research and development into digital technologies to enhance how
crucial services such as healthcare and transport are delivered in rural areas
across the
Speaking at Digital Britain, Lord Mandelson, the Business Secretary, hinted [on 17th April] that ministers were considering substantial cash investment in 50 megabit broadband to avoid a situation where only half the country is easily able to download film and television programmes. www.business.timesonline.co.uk [accessed 21/4/09]
BT Community Connections is an award scheme which enables community
and charitable organisations to get online and make use of information and
communication technology (ICT). The scheme supports a diverse range of community
and charitable organisations. Almost any organisation, working in any field of
community benefit, can apply for a laptop and a year’s free broadband
connection. To find out more log on to www.btcommunityconnections.com
Village Speed Campaign: A new approach to speed reduction on village streets
was launched on 23rd April as part of Norfolk County Council's rural road safety
project in north-east
Driving is less safe in rural than urban Britain. The open country road tends to make people drive up to and above the speed limit. Lack of public transport in rural areas means there is more of a car culture, which is a less safe way to travel than by foot, bus or rail. There are also greater numbers of motorcycles in rural areas. There is also less scope for making improvements to road safety in the countryside. The government's draft road safety strategy for 2010-2020 document, A Safer Way: Consultation on Making Britain's Roads the Safest in the World, is open for comments until 14 July 2009. www.rsnonline.org.uk [accessed 28/4/09]
To improve safety on rural roads, where 60 per cent. of all British road deaths happen, we [the Government] propose annually to publish maps highlighting the main roads with the poorest safety records, encouraging local agencies to rapidly improve safety standards. We also propose to recommend to highway authorities that lower limits are adopted on single carriageways currently subject to 60 mph limit, where risks are relatively high and there is evidence that a lower limit would significantly reduce casualties. (column 13WS Hansard 21/4/09)
With 42% of rural households with no van or
car, affordable transport is needed to give families access to
extra-curricular activities, work, education or training. In one case a youth
worker was told by a 16-year-old who lived in a small hamlet near Stalham that
he had “lost” his best mate. It transpired his friend had moved to
Coastal Accessible Transport Service
(CATS) is one of 20-plus community
transport schemes in
The East of England is one of the most
productive regions in the EU and accounts for a quarter of
Listening to the bees Researchers are watching the waggle dance of the bees to discern from them what it is they like to eat and to try and direct the planting of foraging to suit them better. It is a marvelous step forward that bees are being acknowledged as the best judge of what is good for them.
Tumbling milk prices which are 20% down
since the beginning of this year is a real threat to the British Dairy Market as
two dairy farms are closed each day and more dairy produce is being imported
each month. The milk that was produced in
Bovine TB can be eradicated but it will take at least 20 years. All practical measures need to be used to break the cycle of transmission. More financial, business and social support is needed to help farmers living under disease restrictions. Final Report of the Government’s Bovine TB Advisory Group RuSource Briefing 806.
Sudden Oak Death
Rural areas are suffering from a dwindling supply of affordable housing. More remote rural areas are suffering badly. The recession has dealt a “double whammy” to rural residents, with many areas feeling the pinch and a squeeze on home ownership. www.rsnonline.org.uk [accessed 28/4/09]
The Government response to the Matthew Taylor Review says that it has helped shape a growing consensus about what is needed in the English countryside. The Government agrees with the Review that a “one size fits all” approach cannot do justice to the diversity of rural communities and experiences and, in responding to the Review’s recommendations, emphasises that sustainability is not about choosing the environment over development but about recognising both and striking a balance. www.info4local.gov.uk [accessed 25/03/09]
A practical report based on the activities of a pilot specialist cohesion team working collaboratively with Breckland District Council was published during March. ‘Cohesion and Migration in Breckland’ can be downloaded free of charge or purchased from the Info4local website.
Migrant Workers are needed in our region. The East of England Development Agency have commissioned a report ‘Why the East of England needs migrant workers’ which can be downloaded from their website. www.eeda.org.uk [accessed 26/3/09]
Church Network for Gypsies and Travellers Website contains useful information and offers very good resources describing Gypsy and Traveller life and some of the difficulties they face, and outlining the legal situation. (Jill Hopkinson, National Rural Officer, ARC)
The Government and the Church of England have published guidelines to help all religious groups overcome the “squeamishness” they can encounter from funding providers. Churches and Faith Buildings: Realizing the Potential identifies funding and support for faith groups that will enable them to adapt their buildings for community use and build on their capacity to engage at local and regional level. www.cofe.anglican.org [accessed 26/3/09]
The Big Lunch is an initiative led by Tim Smit of the Eden Project to get local communities to sit down and eat together on Sunday 19 July 2009. www.thebiglunch.com has full details and an interactive map that shows where events are taking place. “The Big Lunch would be a good event for many rural churches to get involved in” (Dr Jill Hopkinson, National Rural Officer for the Church of England.)
Twenty nine churches in the Repps deanery around Cromer, Sheringham and Mundesley are featured in a new leaflet launched at the weekend. The brochure, published by the local Poppyland Partnership with the help of sponsors, aimed to encourage people to discover churches. Bishop of Lynn, the Rt Rev James Langstaff, said: “This is a more positive message than the usual impression that rural churches are a burden to the local communities”. www.northnorfolknews.co.uk [accessed 1/4/09]
The
Churches Rural Group (CRG) have organised a day
consultation on 15th May 2009 on "Third Age Opportunities for the Rural
Church"
The Rural Evangelism
Network (REN) has a day conference on 3rd June
2009 on "Refreshing the Vision: Exploring Rural
Evangelism".
Newly-written Prayers for Open Farm
Sunday (7th June) are available from
the ARC
© 2009 Dr. Lorna Allies | District & Diocesan Rural Adviser